By Ken Afor
The North East zone of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has reconfirmed the expulsion of Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Kwankwaso’s ouster from the NNPP North East executive was due to allegations of him instigating disarray within the party and taking the blame for its recent struggles.
It would be recalled that Kwankwaso, a strong force in northern politics failed to secure for the party the presidential election.
Kwankwaso, a former Senator and a two-time governor of Kano State came forth in the February 25 presidential election wining only his state.
However, after the collation of results, the leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement polled 1,496,687 votes in all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In a communique released by members of the party in the zone after a meeting on Friday, the stakeholders “reaffirmed the expulsion of Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso from the NNPP, accusing him of causing internal crisis in the party.”
In response to the recent Appeal Court ruling against the NNPP and Kano State Governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, which stated that the governorship election petitions tribunal had voided Yusuf’s election citing irregularities in the vote count, the North East NNPP strongly condemned the ruling of the court.
At the meeting, the NNPP North East leadership demonstrated great loyalty to Governor Yusuf despite the legal setback. They asked all party members and supporters across the country to extend their “maximum support and prayers” to their embattled leader.
Dr Babayo Liman, the National Vice Chairman North for NNPP, read the communique which corroborated the dissolution of the Abba Kawu Ali-led National Working Committee (NWC) and declared a show of support for Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, who is the founder of the party and a life member of its Board of Trustees.
The North East NNPP reaffirmed the election of Dr. Tope Aluko as Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Engr. Mohammed Babayo Abdullahi as Secretary.
Additionally, they confirmed the appointment of a new NWC headed by Dr Agbo Major.
The following are the acting state party chairmen for the North East zone, as stated in the communique:
Bauchi: Alhaji Umar Isa
Taraba: Kabiru A. Abdul
Adamawa: Alh Salmanu Abubakar
Yobe: Mal. Babangida Garba (acting)
Borno: Alh. Aminu Bukan Salihu
Gombe: Barr Ramby Ayaba
The North East Deputy National Chairman, Abdullahi Yalcabu, confirmed that “all the executive committee members and critical stakeholders of Northeast zone attended the meeting.”
Engr. Mohammed Babayo Abdullahi, the board of trustees secretary, was additionally mentioned.