NNPP Secures Court Order Against Faction Attempting to Elect Parallel Executives
The leadership of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has successfully obtained an interim injunction from a Federal Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) against a faction of the party attempting to elect parallel executives at both the national and state levels.
The NNPP, which was founded in 2022, has been embroiled in a power struggle between two factions: one loyal to the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Dr. Musa Kwankwaso, and the other loyal to the party’s founder, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam. This leadership dispute has led to conflicting efforts to control the structure of the party.
In a landmark ruling, the Federal Court, under suit No. FCT/HC/CV/5518/2024, issued an order barring members of the Aniebonam-led faction from claiming to be part of the NNPP or from holding congresses and national conventions to elect new officials.
The court’s decision effectively prevents Aniebonam and his associates from taking actions on behalf of the party. According to a statement released on Thursday by NNPP’s national publicity secretary, Ladipo Johnson, the faction led by Aniebonam no longer holds any legitimate standing within the party.
Court Ruling Affirms Legitimate Leadership of NNPP
Johnson also claimed that Aniebonam and other members of his camp had been expelled from the NNPP due to their alleged ties with opposition parties and their attempts to undermine the party’s true leadership. He accused the faction of attempting to confuse the public over the party’s leadership, logo, and color identity.
“The court’s order also restrains them, their agents, or servants from undertaking any official activities on behalf of the NNPP,” Johnson stated. “Additionally, the court has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to refrain from responding to any correspondence from this faction or monitoring their unlawful congresses.”
Johnson expressed confidence that the court’s intervention would bring an end to the faction’s attempts to disrupt the party’s affairs, emphasizing that the NNPP’s leadership remained committed to the lawful and democratic functioning of the party. He also invited the faction’s members to appear in court so that the legal process could resolve the matter once and for all.
Conclusion: A Victory for Unity Within NNPP
The court’s ruling marks a significant victory for the leadership loyal to Kwankwaso, who have faced continued challenges in maintaining control of the party structure amid the leadership crisis. With the legal backing now firmly on their side, the NNPP leadership hopes to strengthen the party’s unity and focus on its future growth.
