The deepening crisis within the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) escalated on Monday as the party leadership lashed out at Rabiu Kwankwaso, accusing him of hypocrisy after he condemned members of his Kwankwassiya Movement who recently switched allegiance to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The party, led by Agbo Major, criticized Kwankwaso for branding defectors as “betrayers of trust.” In a statement released in Lagos, Agbo declared that Kwankwaso himself had long violated the party’s confidence. “Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso has been expelled from the NNPP, together with his followers, led by Dr. Ahmed Ajuji,” the statement read.
Agbo argued that the Memorandum of Understanding between the NNPP and Kwankwaso’s movement was terminated after the 2023 presidential elections, granting members the liberty to realign politically. “The same Kwankwaso who betrayed the trust reposed in him by the NNPP when he tried to hijack the party is the one calling others betrayers,” Agbo stated.
He emphasized that Nigerians are free to associate with any political platform of their choosing. Agbo also stressed that Kwankwaso has lost influence over the Kwankwassiya Movement and cannot block members from defecting to other parties. “Kwankwaso lost all respect from his followers when he tried to bite the fingers that gave him the presidential ticket on trust, without any financial obligations,” the NNPP chairman added.
According to Agbo, Kwankwaso should focus on forming a new political outfit or identifying a different party to control. “Kwankwaso has long been expelled from the NNPP and should either register his own party or look for another political platform to hijack,” he said.
He concluded that the string of defections reflected Kwankwaso’s declining grip on his supporters. “His members defecting to the APC simply shows that he has also lost control of the movement, just like he lost his planned hijack of the NNPP, which was registered in 2002 before his entrance in 2023,” Agbo said. “Kwankwaso’s political career ended with his expulsion from the NNPP and the consequent defection of his followers,” he asserted.
Recently, Senator Abdulrahman Kawu, who represents Kano South, officially decamped to the APC, joined by other federal lawmakers from Kano. A statement from his media aide, Abbas Adam Abbas, indicated that their decision followed extensive consultations with their constituents and stakeholders.
