Kwankwaso’s camp loses suit challenging NNPP leadership

The leadership dispute within the New Nigeria Peoples Party took a significant turn on Thursday as a High Court in the Federal Capital Territory dismissed a lawsuit filed by a faction loyal to Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.

The suit sought to challenge the legitimacy of the party’s current leadership under its founder, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, and National Chairman, Dr. Agbo Major.

The legal action, filed by Dr. Ahmed Ajuji and 20 others, aimed to invalidate the authority of the NNPP’s Board of Trustees and its executive leadership, which included National Secretary, Oginni Olaposi, Deputy National Chairman, Chief Felix Chukwurah, and legal practitioner, Tony Obioha.

The plaintiffs had sought to restrain these officials from convening meetings, conducting congresses, or presiding over the party’s National Convention, arguing that they had been expelled from the NNPP.

However, Justice M.A. Hassan ruled that the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case, affirming that internal party matters—such as leadership disputes—are outside the scope of judicial intervention.

Justice Hassan cited a clear position established by the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, which holds that courts do not adjudicate internal party affairs, except in cases related to the nomination of candidates for elections.

“The position of the law, as upheld by the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, is clear: courts do not adjudicate on matters that fall within the internal affairs of a political party, except in cases relating to the nomination of candidates for elections,” the judge stated.

With the ruling, the court dismissed all the claims made by the plaintiffs, effectively confirming that the Agbo Major-led leadership of the NNPP remains the legitimate authority overseeing the party.

This decision reinforces an earlier ruling by the Abia State High Court (Suit No.: HUZ/11/2024) on November 1, 2024, which reinstated the NNPP’s Board of Trustees, led by Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, and upheld the legitimacy of the party’s congresses and National Convention, which resulted in the election of the current leadership.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Segun Fiki, counsel to the defendants, welcomed the ruling, describing the case as an attempt to usurp the party’s leadership through questionable means. Fiki emphasized that the court’s decision affirmed the rightful administration of the NNPP under Major and Aniebonam.

“The court has spoken clearly—this matter is non-justiciable. The legitimate leadership of the NNPP has been affirmed, and we now expect the Independent National Electoral Commission to formally recognize and cooperate with the party’s duly elected officials,” Fiki said.

In contrast, the Kwankwaso faction expressed frustration with the ruling.

The faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, criticised Major and Aniebonam for allegedly misleading the public.

 In a phone interview with The PUNCH, Johnson insisted that the lawsuit wasn’t aimed at Major or Aniebonam, but rather at individuals using the party’s name inappropriately.

“The judge, wrongfully, I believe, said that this is an internal affair of the party. But does a lack of jurisdiction mean the same thing as affirming Major? They are just trying to spin it,” Johnson said, hinting at a forthcoming statement to clarify the faction’s stance on the issue.