Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of a faction within the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), led by Major Agbo, has been ousted from the party.
This expulsion comes as a consequence of allegations of anti-party activities and the misappropriation of campaign funds by Kwankwaso.
The NNPP faction, under the leadership of Major Agbo, formally declared Kwankwaso’s expulsion in a statement released in Abuja on Tuesday.
Abdulsalam Abdulrasaq, the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, made the announcement.
This development occurred shortly after the faction’s leaders had previously pledged to investigate the former Kano governor and some of his supporters regarding the alleged misappropriation of over N1 billion generated from the sale of nomination forms.
Abdulrasaq further confirmed that the decision to expel Kwankwaso took immediate effect due to his failure to appear before the disciplinary panel within a stipulated five-day period to address the accusations of “serious anti-party activities and the mishandling of party campaign finances.”
The spokesman, however, reiterated that his expulsion was done in line with the provisions of the party’s 2022 constitution as amended.
He said, “The NEC met in an emergency session on Friday, September 1, and resolved that following the refusal of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to appear before the disciplinary committee, which sat on Thursday, August 31, after being duly invited in writing, he is hereby, expelled from the NNPP with immediate effect.
“That the erstwhile presidential candidate, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso will be reported to appropriate quarters to answer questions on financial impropriety relating to mismanagement of public funds.”
Meanwhile, Kwankwaso Ally and the National Auditor Of the NNPP, Ladipo Johnson, have rejected the party’s decision to sack the former presidential candidate, saying Agbo’s faction does not have the locus standi to dismiss the former governor.
“Expel who? These people are no longer our people. They are out of the party and cannot speak on behalf of the party. Let them form their own party or go to court. I’ss as simple as that. There are so many important things to worry about in this country.
“How can they expel Kwankwaso? Someone whose relationship with the National Working Committee is intact here at the national headquarters in Abuja? We will soon be having a press conference to address this matter,” he concluded.
