From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), loyal to Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has declared the suspension of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf by the Boniface Aniebonam-led faction as null and void.
Governor Yusuf was suspended for a period of six months by the Aniebonam camp for attending the recently held convention organised by Kwankwaso’s team.
Speaking to reporters in Abuja, Ajuji Ahmed, the Acting Chairman of the party, dismissed the punishment and referred to the initiators of the action as “political comedians” who lack the authority to sanction any member.
Ahmed recalled how these same individuals worked against the governor during his time at the tribunal, falsely claiming that he was not a member of the party.
“For record purposes, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf is a bona fide member of our great party and a worthy Ambassador of NNPP whose leadership and unprecedented achievements in Kano State are a thing of pride and as such we have no have no reason to suspend him,” Ahmed stated.
He further emphasised that the NNPP did not suspend the governor, asserting that the announcement made by “expelled political comedians” seeking relevance was “nothing more than a broken record and a poorly scripted” attempt to suspend Governor Yusuf.
“These political jobbers were also the ones hired to scuttle Governor Abba Yusuf’s election at the Tribunal, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court, falsely claiming that he was not a member of the party and thus not duly and properly nominated as the party’s candidate for the 2023 General Election,” Ahmed added.
Regarding the claim made by the embattled National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, that Kwankwaso had a hand in his suspension, Ahmed dismissed it as ridiculous and preposterous. He stated unequivocally that Kwankwaso and Governor Yusuf were not responsible for Ganduje’s political misfortunes.
“We must state categorically that our leaders have nothing to do with this claim, and Alhaji Ganduje should face his self-inflicted travails and not use the NNPP or its leaders as distractions from the facts,” Ahmed clarified.
He concluded by affirming that the “NNPP remains focused on ushering in a new and improved Nigeria, exemplified in the good governance” demonstrated by Governor Abba Yusuf in Kano State. “The party is united and strong in fostering sustainable democracy in Nigeria,” he said.