The National Executive Committee has taken decisive action against its 2023 Presidential Candidate, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso. The party’s leadership had previously suspended him at the National Convention on August 29 in Lagos.
The NNPP’s National Executive Council had established a Disciplinary Committee tasked with inviting Kwankwaso to address allegations of gross anti-party activities and mishandling of party and campaign funds within a five-day window. They had clearly stated that failing to appear before the committee would result in expulsion, in accordance with the 2022 party constitution amendments.
As a result, Mr. Abdulsalam Abdulrasaq, the Acting National Publicity Secretary of NNPP, announced on Tuesday in Lagos that the NEC had promptly expelled Kwankwaso due to his refusal to engage with the committee’s inquiries.
Abdulrasaq stated, “The NEC convened an emergency session on Friday, September 1, and reached the following decisions: Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is hereby expelled from NNPP with immediate effect, following his refusal to appear before the disciplinary committee, which convened on Thursday, August 31, after he had been duly invited in writing.”
He added, “The erstwhile presidential candidate, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, will be reported to appropriate authorities to address questions related to financial impropriety and the mismanagement of public funds.”
This latest development underscores the ongoing internal strife within NNPP, which initially surfaced when the party’s National Working Committee, loyal to Kwankwaso, announced the suspension of NNPP founder Dr. Boniface Aniebonam and National Publicity Secretary Dr. Agbo Major on August 24.