A faction of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), led by Major Agbo, has denied engaging in merger talks with any political party.
This comes in response to reports suggesting that another faction of the NNPP expressed openness to a merger if Rabiu Kwankwaso were to be the anointed candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
The faction is said to be represented by Yakubu Shendam.
Major Agbo clarified that the NNPP is not considering any merger and accused Shendam of speaking for Kwankwaso rather than the party.
He emphasised the party’s independence and stated that the NNPP’s mandate cannot be absorbed into any other entity.
The statement reads:
“The BoT, in its meeting on Aug. 28, had expelled Kwankwaso, and the decision was ratified by the National Convention of Aug. 29 in Lagos due to anti-party activities and other serious infractions”.
“Kwankwaso is no longer a member of our party, and cannot be its presidential candidate in 2027, and Shendam needs to know this.
“Every Nigerian is interested in having a true democracy that is all-inclusive, what we have now is far away from democracy.
“So, if there is a proposition by opposition elements to ensure that democracy is installed, why not?
“However, that proposition must be given a good thought, considered by the founder and other founding members of our party,” he said.
“Anything that will make Nigerians witness democracy is accepted, but our certificate is independent.
“Our certificate cannot be subsumed into any other as being imagined by Kwankwaso, Buba Galadima, Shendam and their Kwankwassiya group, who are no longer members of our party.
“At the moment, we are not considering any merger, and if there will be any form of alliance (certainly not a merger) at all, it should be with the NNPP, because Atiku is now retiring.
“So, he should support our party to enthrone a dependable leadership come 2027.”
NNPP has been experiencing a leadership crisis involving a dispute between factions led by Rabiu Kwankwaso and the party’s board of trustees (BoT) led by Boniface Aniebonam.
The crisis escalated with mutual expulsions between the two factions.
Kwankwaso’s faction reversed the expulsion decision and expelled some national officers.
However, a high court in Kano intervened by setting aside Kwankwaso’s expulsion and restraining further actions on the case.
The internal conflicts within the NNPP have contributed to a complex political landscape within the party.