Kano NNPP Suspends Senator, Three Lawmakers Over Alleged Anti-Party Activities
Suspended Lawmakers Dismiss Action as Fraudulent
APC Crisis Deepens as Housing Minister Threatens Resignation Over Chairmanship Dispute
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Kano has suspended a senator and three House of Representatives members over alleged anti-party activities, escalating tensions within the party. The announcement was made yesterday by the NNPP’s Kano State Chairman, Alhaji Hashimu Dungurawa, during a press briefing in Kano.
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The suspended lawmakers include Senator Kawu Sumaila (Kano South), Alhaji Abdullahi Rogo (Rogo Federal Constituency), Alhaji Abdullahi Rurum (Rano/Kibiya Federal Constituency), and Ali Maadakin Gini (Dala Federal Constituency). According to Dungurawa, these legislators were found guilty of disregarding party principles despite receiving automatic tickets during the last elections.
One of the key allegations against Sumaila was his decision to exclude NNPP leaders, including its national leader Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, from his daughter’s wedding and the commissioning of projects at his university in Sumaila. The chairman argued that Sumaila instead chose to invite political opponents, including those who opposed his candidacy.
Suspended Lawmakers Reject Allegations
Reacting to the suspension, the affected lawmakers released a joint statement rejecting the decision, calling it an illegal and desperate act orchestrated by a faction already expelled from the NNPP. They accused Kwankwaso of dictatorial tendencies and running the party with little regard for democratic principles.
The lawmakers further claimed that their suspension was a retaliatory move following Kwankwaso’s deliberate absence at Sumaila’s private events, including his daughter’s wedding and the convocation ceremony of Al-Istiqama University. They pointed out that APC’s National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Deputy Senate President Senator Barau Jibrin, and former Governor Malam Ibrahim Shekarau were present at the events, signifying Kwankwaso’s attempts to undermine political rivals.
Labeling Dungurawa as a mere puppet of Kwankwaso, they dismissed his authority over party matters and cited a ruling from the Abia High Court on November 1, 2024, which recognized Dr. Boniface Aniebonam as the legitimate NNPP leader while expelling Kwankwaso and his loyalists.
“The so-called suspension is a fraudulent political gimmick designed to mislead the public and distract from Kwankwaso’s faction’s failures,” their statement read. They reassured party members of their unwavering loyalty to the NNPP’s legally recognized leadership.
APC Crisis in Kano Worsens as Minister Threatens Resignation
In a separate development, Kano’s political landscape was further rocked by a crisis within the state’s All Progressives Congress (APC). The Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Ata, has threatened to resign from his position should Abdullahi Abbas be re-elected as APC’s Kano State Chairman.
Ata accused Abbas of violating the party’s constitution by holding the chairmanship position for over a decade, attributing the APC’s defeat in the 2023 elections to his leadership style. The minister argued that Abbas’s continued tenure would only worsen the party’s fortunes ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“I remain firm on my stance. If Abdullahi Abbas wins any re-election for the chairmanship of the APC in Kano, I will resign as minister,” Ata declared. He called on party members to unite against elements detrimental to the APC’s success.
Ata also revealed that he spent N10 million to contest for a House of Representatives seat, underscoring his commitment to the party despite growing internal tensions. He accused his detractors of failing to provide legitimate criteria for party membership and maintained that his fallout with Kwankwaso was due to diverging political interests.
With both the NNPP and APC embroiled in internal strife, Kano’s political scene remains volatile, raising concerns over the stability of both parties as the state gears up for the 2027 elections.
Reference
Kano NNPP Suspends Senator, Three Lawmakers Over Alleged Anti-Party Activities