...Says former Presidential Candidate long expelled
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has denied issuing any official birthday message to its former presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, describing reports extolling his leadership qualities as misleading and false.
In a statement signed by its National Chairman, Dr. Major Agbo Gilbert, the party clarified that it neither released nor authorized any public statement celebrating Kwankwaso, who, alongside some of his close associates, had long been expelled from the NNPP.
“Our party has not issued any official statement congratulating its erstwhile presidential candidate in the 2023 general election as reported,” Dr. Agbo stated.
The NNPP further distanced itself from the statement purportedly signed by Mr. Ladipo Johnson, stressing that Johnson is not a member of the party and lacks the authority to speak on its behalf.
“The statement purportedly signed by one Ladipo Johnson did not emanate from the party headquarters, as said Johnson is not a member of our party,” the statement read.
According to the NNPP, Kwankwaso, Buba Galadima, Dr. Ahmed Ajuji, and Barr. LadipoJohnson was expelled from the party through internal disciplinary mechanisms—a decision subsequently affirmed by both the Abia High Court and the FCT High Court.
The statement explained that only the party’s founder and Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam, had personally congratulated Kwankwaso on his birthday, citing a “personal relationship” rather than an official party position.
“Our party was not able to establish sound leadership qualities to be extolled during Kwankwaso’s one-year stay and would not have issued such a statement describing attributes that do not exist,” the NNPP chairman added.
The party cautioned the media to verify information from credible sources before publication, urging journalists to support efforts toward building a transparent democratic process in the country.
“We urge the press to continue to be worthy partners in our quest for true democracy by verifying the exact true positions in our party before reporting,” Dr. Agbo said.
