The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disregard a notice of congress issued by a faction of the party. According to the National Secretary, Mr. Oginni Sunday, the proposed convention letter signed by Dr. Ahmed Ajuji and Dipo Olayoku is an affront to a recent FCT High Court judgment delivered on April 3.
Sunday, who belongs to the NNPP faction loyal to its founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, stated that the judgment had settled the issue of the proposed convention. He described Ajuji and Olayoku as “meddlesome interlopers” in NNPP matters, citing the court’s ruling that they had no locus standi in the case.
The FCT High Court judgment, delivered by Justice M.A. Hassan, dismissed a suit filed by Ajuji’s faction against Aniebonam’s leadership, affirming that internal party disputes are beyond judicial intervention. Sunday emphasized that the judgment made the Aniebonam-led NNPP the “judgment creditors,” while Ajuji’s faction became the “judgment debtors.”
Despite the court’s ruling, Ajuji and Olayoku wrote to INEC to conduct a fresh convention and congress, which Sunday described as a total defiance to the December 2024 and January 2025 valid congress and convention of Aniebonam’s executives. He expressed shock that the faction would take such action without appealing the judgment.
The NNPP has submitted a letter to INEC, distancing itself from the congress and urging the commission to act swiftly. The development comes after Justice Hassan dismissed a suit filed by Ajuji and 20 others, which sought to challenge the legitimacy of the party’s current leadership under Aniebonam.
The case had aimed to invalidate the authority of the NNPP’s Board of Trustees and its executive leadership, but the court ruled that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit. With the judgment in place, the NNPP expects INEC to disregard the notice of congress issued by Ajuji’s faction and recognize the legitimate leadership of the party. The commission’s response will be crucial in determining the next steps for the party.