A faction of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to dismiss a “purported notice” of congress.
Addressing a news conference in Abuja, the National Secretary, Mr. Oginni Sunday, who represents the faction loyal to the party’s Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, stated that the convention letter signed by representatives of the Rabiu Kwankwaso-led movement is contrary to a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court ruling issued on April 3.
Sunday highlighted that, according to the recent High Court judgment on suit No. FCT/HC/CV/5518/2024, signatories Dr. Ahmed Ajuji and Dipo Olayoku are “meddlesome interlopers” in NNPP matters.
He emphasized that the FCT High Court ruling had resolved the proposed convention issue.
“Allow me to inform Nigerians and the international community that Ajuji and his faction filed a case in the FCT High Court on Dec. 16, 2024, to halt the lawful Congress and convention initiated by the Aniebonam-led NNPP BoT.
“The judgment halting the lawful convention was delivered by the Abia State High Court on November 1, 2024, under Suit No. HUZ/11/2024.
“Additionally, the FCT High Court, in a judgment by Justice M.A. Hassan on April 3, dismissed the case by the Ajuji-led faction of Kwankwaso against the Aniebonam-led NNPP.
“As a result, the Ajuji-led group are the judgment debtors, while the Aniebonam-led NNPP are the judgment creditors,” Sunday explained.
Sunday expressed shock that, despite the judgment not being appealed, Ajuji and Olayoku had the audacity to request INEC to conduct an illegal fresh convention and congress.
He described this move as defiance against the December 2024 and January 2025 valid congress and convention of the Aniebonam-led NNPP executives.
Sunday confirmed that a letter had been submitted to INEC urging them to distance themselves from the Congress, hoping for swift action from the commission.
On April 3, Justice Hassan dismissed a suit by a faction loyal to Kwankwaso, challenging the leadership of Aniebonam and National Chairman Dr. Agbo Major.
The case, initiated by Ajuji and 20 others, sought to invalidate the NNPP’s Board of Trustees and executive leadership, including National Secretary Oginni Olaposi, Deputy National Chairman Chief Felix Chukwurah, and legal practitioner Tony Obioha.
The claimants requested the court to prevent these officials from convening meetings, conducting congresses, or leading the party’s national convention, arguing they had been expelled from the NNPP.
However, Justice Hassan ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction over internal party disputes, such as leadership and membership issues.
