By Suleiman Ibrahim
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has hit back at Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso for condemning members of the Kwankwassiya Movement who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), branding Kwankwaso himself as “the real betrayer.”
The crisis within the NNPP deepened following the defection of prominent lawmakers to the APC. In a statement issued Monday in Lagos, NNPP National Chairman Dr. Agbo Major criticized Kwankwaso for labeling the defectors as “betrayers of trust,” pointing out that Kwankwaso had been expelled from the party along with his faction led by Dr. Ahmed Ajuji.
“The NNPP severed its Memorandum of Understanding with Kwankwaso and his Kwankwassiya Movement after the 2023 presidential elections,” Agbo’s statement read. “As Nigerian citizens, members are free to join any political party of their choice.”
Agbo accused Kwankwaso of attempting to hijack the party and of betraying the trust placed in him when he sought to claim the presidential ticket without financial obligations. “Kwankwaso lost control of his movement and the NNPP long before these defections,” the statement added.
The NNPP chairman urged Kwankwaso to either form a new party or find another platform, emphasizing that the recent defections to the APC underscore Kwankwaso’s waning influence.
Earlier, Senator Abdulrahman Kawu of Kano South defected to the APC with several federal lawmakers from Kano State, citing consultations with stakeholders and constituents as the basis for his decision.
The NNPP, currently led by Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, continues to grapple with internal leadership disputes and ongoing defections. Rumors persist that Kwankwaso himself may soon leave the party, though no official announcement has been made.
