By Samuel Solomon
Since the exit of the Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his erstwhile godfather, Rabiu Kwankwaso’s defection to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), the party has been gasping for breath.
Yusuf and Kwankwaso joined the party in 2022 alongside their horde of supporters popularly known as the Kwankwasiyya Movement.
NNPP made headway in the 2023 general elections, winning major seats like the Kano State governorship contest, the Senate, House of Representatives and State Assembly seats. It ranked third after the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) then.
But things have changed. Sources within the NNPP disclosed how political activities have reduced drastically. The party lost its former chairman Ahmed Ajuji to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The funds to keep the party alive are now limited.
The source said: “It is not how it used to be before. The main people were Kwankwaso and governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. Where will the funds come from if you do not have sponsors who are in power?
“Even salaries and other emoluments are difficult for the party to pay now. It is barely surviving.”
The NNPP chieftain added that members are worried over rumours of possible eviction from the building which is believed to be owed by the NDC vice presidential candidate.
“He has defected to the NDC and he is even the NDC vice presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections.
“Who knows, he might decide to take back his property from the NNPP. We will have to start making arrangements to move to another location and that will cost us money, “ the source added.
But, when contacted, the NNPP National Secretary, Dipo Olayoku, said there was no cause for alarm over the state of the party.
“Everything is going on well. There is no problem. We are on course. Every activity that involves political parties, we have been involved. We just did our primaries on the 29th of May. And we are getting ready for the bye-elections of June 20.
“We have uploaded our candidates’ names. We are only uploading our polling agents’ names. So, everything is going on smoothly.”
Olayoku disclosed that NNPP would not field a presidential candidate explaining that the crisis that started in 2023 created some confusion.
“And we don’t want to go into that. We cannot be using some of our members as presidential candidates as other parties are doing.
“So, we just felt limited to the governorship in all the states.”
He also clarified that Kwankwaso did not leave the party in anger but due to his political calculations and to avert more troubles in the party, because of the interest of some political forces in Kano State.
He pointed out that the former governor had no plans of taking back his property currently in use as NNPP headquarters.
“That Senator Kwankwaso wants to take back his building has never featured in our discussion.
“Yes, it is his property. It is like people do not know Senator Kwankwaso very well. If you know him, even if somebody told you that he wants to take his building back, you would say no. He does not play politics of bitterness. Except when people want to instigate that kind of discussion.
“It has never featured in our discussion with him. We still talk. Like I said, this man didn’t leave the party because there was a quarrel.
“He left the party because some people did not want him to be on the ballot. And they believe the only reason they can do that is to fight the political entity.
“It was a tactical withdrawal and that was why he withdrew. Just like what Obi did in the Labour Party. And the two of them have similar destinies.
“So it is just a matter of some people flying some kites. It has never featured in our discussion.”
On the debt owed to workers, he challenged those aggrieved over unpaid salaries to come out boldly with their claims. We made it a point of duty to pay workers at the end of the month. So, that is very far from the truth,” said.
The national secretary noted that NNPP was yet to decide if it would adopt the NDC because of Kwankwaso as its presidential candidate.
