Solicitors for founder of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) ,Chief Okechukwu Aniebonam, have strongly advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against involving in the affairs of the expelled faction of the party led by Rabiu Kwankwaso.
According to a statement issued by Azubike Anazor, solicitor for Okechukwu Aniebonam to the Chairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, during the 2023 general elections, the said group was found committing sundry anti-party activities leading to their suspension and expulsion from the party.
The statement however reveals that the expelled faction headed by Rabiu Kwankwaso together with his next in Command, Abba Kawu Ali intends to hold congresses, meetings and conventions which have been planned for various dates.
INEC is warned not to illegally usurp judicial functions by recognising the so-called meetings or convention by expelled members of the party or through sending any of its representatives until the final conclusion of all court cases against them.
The statement reads “Dr Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam is by virtue of 12.3.1 of the constitution of the NNPP in your custody, the founder of the party and life member of Board of Trustees “.
“The said founder has read the purported notice of intended congresses, meetings and conventions being planned for various dates and communicated to your office vide letter written by one Abba Kawu Ali dated 5/3/2024 on behalf of the NNPP as its acting National Chairman “.
” The said Abba Kawu Ali is a political hireling of Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso,who together with his said master, and a coterie of other political journeymen have since been expelled by the NNPP.Records and correspondences of their expulsion are in the INEC files in your possession.Some records in your custody clearly show that Dr.Gilbert Major Agbo is the authentic acting National Chairman of the NNPP “.
” It is worth reiterating that Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the erstwhile President Candidate of the NNPP and his Kwankwassiyya movement collaborated with the authentic leadership of the NNPP for the 2023 General elections and no more “.
” Post the said General Elections of 2023, Kwankwaso and his said group were found to be committing sundry anti-party activities leading to their suspension and ultimate expulsion from NNPP”.
” The issue of their valid expulsion for violating the Memorandum of Understanding that formed the basis of their political relationship with the NNPP is a matter of pending appeal in the Court of Appeal ,Awka vide suit No FHC/AWK/CS/150/2023: NNPP & ORS V RABIU MUSA KWANKWASO & ORS”.
“The respondents have been duly served with the Notice of Appeal and the Record of Appeal.INEC , the 11th respondent in the court case has also been duly served with the said Notice of Appeal and Record of Appeal “.
“Accordingly, and pursuant to the generality of the foregoing, INEC which you lead MUST NOT lend itself to any form of illegality by usurpation of justice functions which legitimately belongs to the courts, through the recognition of the so-called congresses, meetings or convention by expelled members of the party or through sending any representatives thereto or observing such illicit congresses and convention in any form or guise”.
“Non involvement in the affairs of the expelled faction of the NNPP led by Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Abba Kawu Ali should be the standing principle of the INEC under your leadership until the final conclusion of all court cases against them vis-a-vis their schemed hijack of the leadership of the NNPP from its founder and authentic leader “.
