NNPP Challenges El-Rufai’s Allegations, Demands Retraction

The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has strongly criticized former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, for alleging that the party received Federal Government backing in its recent internal disputes.

These disputes include the expulsion of its former presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and the suspension of Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, NNPP’s National Secretary, Oginni Olaposi, dismissed El-Rufai’s claims as baseless and an attempt to divert attention from the real issues. El-Rufai, who recently joined the Social Democratic Party after leaving the All Progressives Congress, had accused the Federal Government of orchestrating crises within opposition parties, citing the NNPP’s actions as part of a larger conspiracy.

“The last thing I read about the NNPP was that one faction of the party has expelled Kwankwaso and the sitting governor. When you see things like that, you will know it is a contrived crisis. Which party sacks a sitting governor? And that is the only governor they have. I cannot mention names because I don’t have the details,” El-Rufai remarked.

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In response, Olaposi demanded a public apology from El-Rufai within 48 hours, threatening legal action if the demand is not met. He also posed several questions to refute the allegations of federal interference.

“To set the record straight and to educate Mallam Nasir El-Rufai on the genesis and revelations of the crisis that led to the expulsion of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and the subsequent suspension of Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State, we shall ask Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to ask his friend (Kwankwaso) to answer some of the following questions before the allegations of interference or sponsorship by the Federal Government can be substantiated.

“Was it the Federal Government that asked Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to go to Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam in February 2022 to beg for the NNPP platform? Was it the Federal Government that orchestrated the illegal change of the NNPP logo to that of Kwankwaso’s private school and his Kwankwasia group?

“The Federal Government had no role in the internal workings of our party. Kwankwaso and his cohorts are responsible for the crisis,” Olaposi stated.

Olaposi further emphasized that the NNPP’s internal challenges stemmed from leadership conflicts and not external interference. He reiterated the party’s commitment to addressing these issues independently.

“Consequently, we are calling on Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to publicly tender an unreserved apology to the Founder of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam, and the party leadership on the unfortunate allegation of sponsorship by the Federal Government.

“We are giving Mallam Nasir El-Rufai the next 48 hours to tender his apology for his reckless statement or face prosecution for a defamatory statement against the innocent leaders of the New Nigeria People’s Party,” Olaposi concluded.