- You Want To Weaken Us To Secure Landslide Victory in 2027 — NNPP
- Handle Your Problems, Your Own Way — APC
By Kolawole Ojebisi
The crisis rocking the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Kano state appears to be spiralling out of control.
Some members of the party, however, have attributed the escalation of the crisis to the undue interference of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
As the crisis takes a twist for the worst, these party members accuse the APC of fuelling the rift to weaken the NNPP.
The rift in Kano NNPP appears to have reached its climax on Wednesday as some long-standing members of the Kwankwasiyya movement are kicking against what they called the overbearing influence of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso on the party leadership.
But the APC in response also lashed the NNPP, accusing it of blaming outsiders for its internal crisis. According to the APC, the NNPP leadership should focus on providing good leadership in Kano State rather than crying wolf where there is none.
The New Diplomat had reported how the rift threatened to tear the party apart weeks ago.
To many insiders, this rebellion marks the most significant challenge yet to Kwankwaso’s authority, with members demanding more independence for the state governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf.
This development was prompted by the suspension of Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, Secretary to the State Government, and Muhammad Diggol, Commissioner for Transport, on allegations of involvement in a splinter group promoting Yusuf’s autonomy from Kwankwaso’s influence.
Prior to the suspension, party members loyal to Yusuf used to make their dissatisfaction tacitly but they’re now increasingly vocal about it.
Garzali Musa Muhammad, known as Garzali Obasanjo, has been leading a campaign for Yusuf’s independence. He said the campaign is gaining momentum among party loyalists.
“We are the foot soldiers who fought for Kwankwasiyya, but it’s time we stop being slaves to one man,” he argued, adding that Yusuf deserves to lead freely.
But while the state government publicly moved to quell the unrest, two NNPP House of Representatives members from Kano, Aliyu Sani Madakin Gini (Dala) and Alhassan Rurum (Rano/Kibiya/Bunkure), publicly distanced themselves from Kwankwaso and the movement on Sunday, signalling a wider stretch of the dissatisfaction.
It was gathered that the governor, backed by a significant number of loyalists, has become emboldened as Yusuf allegedly refuse to attend meetings with Kwankwaso.
Madakin Gini, who has been a loyal Kwankwasiyya foot soldier, criticised the lack of respect for long-term supporters, stating that, “Kwankwaso disregards loyalists, only seeking them out when he’s in trouble.”
He also expressed concern that the governor was under pressure within the movement.
“My message to the governor is clear. They are trying to weaken him. I am urging him to stand firm; otherwise, he may be blindsided by those around him. I have insights into plans against him,” he said.
But on Tuesday, the party’s executives in Yalwa Ward, Dala Local Government, announced the suspension of Madakin Gini. According to a statement by the Ward Chairman, Aminu Inuwa Habib, the decision was reached unanimously by party executives, who have established a disciplinary committee to determine further action.
In response, Aminu Abdullahi, an aide to Madakin Gini, dismissed the suspension, claiming the lawmaker aligns with the NNPP faction led by the party’s Board of Trustees’ Chairman, Chief Boniface Aniebonam.
But Yahaya Umar Bagobiri, an associate of Kwankwaso, claimed that the APC, wary of the NNPP’s strength, has taken deliberate steps to create rifts within opposition parties ahead of the next general elections.
“It’s the handwork of the APC,” Bagobiri, who remained in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after Kwankwaso’s exit, insisted. He suggested that APC operatives have sought to weaken the NNPP and other major opposition groups.
He contended that this was part of a larger plan by the APC to ensure voters are left with weakened choices come election time.
Bagobiri also pointed to the legal challenges surrounding the NNPP’s rebranding, including a recent court ruling that prevented changes to the party’s logo.
“Kwankwaso tried to change the logo to one with a book and a pen. This could backfire if the court invalidates NNPP candidates’ positions due to these branding issues,” he warned.
“Kwankwaso tried to change the logo to one with a book and a pen. This could backfire if the court invalidates NNPP candidates’ positions due to these branding issues,” he warned.
The APC, however, brushed aside accusations of interference. Ahmad Aruwa, the APC spokesman in Kano, asserted that the NNPP’s issues are its own to handle.
“The NNPP should focus on governing Kano instead of blaming the APC. We don’t have time for these distractions; they need to address their own problems,”
