The National Peace Committee of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has called on the National Working Committee (NWC) to revoke the expulsion order imposed on the party’s founder, Dr Boniface Aniebonam. In addition to this, the committee has recommended that the NWC issue a letter of apology to Aniebonam for the indiscretion displayed in the expulsion order.
In August, the Rabiu Kwankwaso-led faction of the party expelled Aniebonam, who serves as the party’s founder and chairman of its Board of Trustees (BoT), along with other members. The expulsion was attributed to alleged anti-party activities.
Speaking in Lagos on Sunday, the chairman of the party’s National Peace Committee, Azubike Anazor, emphasized that Aniebonam should always be accorded due respect as the party’s founder.
Furthermore, Anazor stressed that the NNPP acting national chairman, Alhaji Abba Ali, should facilitate a prompt meeting between Aniebonam and Kwankwaso. He added that subsequent meetings should only involve the two parties, with no involvement of a third party.
Anazor also recommended that the NWC and the National Executive Committee refrain from pursuing any amendments to the party’s constitution. He cautioned that any attempts to undermine the powers of any party organ could result in hostility and raise suspicions of a party takeover.
He stated, “NNPP’s primary goal is to provide credible opposition in Nigeria and position itself for significant victories in the 2027 general elections. This can only be accomplished if the party remains united and expands its membership, rather than resorting to suspensions, expulsions, and exclusionary policies.”
Anazor disclosed that the National Peace Committee uncovered the root causes of the conflict between the warring factions, which, if left unchecked, could jeopardize the existence of the party itself. Some of the main issues include alleged attempts by Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate and national leader, to exert control over the party and sideline its founding members in favor of his “Kwankwasiyya” group.
It is also alleged that the proposed constitutional amendments are designed to diminish the powers of the Board of Trustees and the party’s founder. Conversely, there are counter-allegations that certain leaders within the old NNPP have been compromised by an opposition party in Kano State as part of a scheme to discredit Kwankwaso and undermine his influence within the NNPP.
Anazor further revealed that the party executives who were expelled in the states complained about lack of fair hearing in their suspension and subsequent expulsion. He highlighted that Aniebonam’s expulsion from the party has been deemed by his supporters as a direct violation of the NNPP Constitution, which grants him “life membership” in the party’s BoT.
