Kwankwaso to Yusuf: Learn from Oth-ers, Insists No One Who Betrays NNPP Succeeds

• Party crisis deepens as supporters battle over leadership  

•APC: we’re ready to receive gov

Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano

The national leader of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has expressed disappointment over reports that some party members, including Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, were considering leaving the party.

Speaking to party supporters at his Kano residence, the former governor said the new development did not surprise him.

In a viral video from the event, Kwankwaso stated that history had shown that anyone who betrayed NNPP never ended well politically.

“What I am seeing is even beyond what I expected because I am aware that few, very few of you have decided to cross to the other side. Don’t worry, whoever knows them should advise them,” he said.

The Kwankwasiyya leader explained that the mammoth crowd at the ceremony was clear proof that NNPP still enjoyed strong grassroots support across Kano State, despite moves by some political figures to align with the governor.

“I’m very glad with the turnout today because I didn’t expect to see so many faces here. I thought they would follow the governor’s camp. But I want to remind those who left us that nobody has betrayed us and succeeded,” Kwankwaso added.

Supporters of Kwankwaso and Yusuf engaged in a leadership tussle, following the purported expulsion of the party chairman, Hashimu Dungurawa, and his replacement by Abdullahi Zubairu Abiya.

Barely 48 hours after viral reports that Yusuf planned to leave the party for All Progressives Congress (APC), the two political leaders engaged in verbal attacks, suspensions, and counter-suspensions.

At his Gargari Ward, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State, the ward chairman, Shuaibu Hassan, announced the expulsion of Dungurawa.

According to the resolution by the party leadership, Dungurawa was removed over allegations of creating divisions within the party, instigating internal crisis, failing to pay party dues, and making abusive remarks against the governor of Kano State.

In his response, the party chairman dismissed the expulsion and described it as child’s play, inconsequential, saying it lacks constitutional backing or political weight within the party structure.

He stated that NNPP had clear guidelines and disciplinary procedures, which could not be circumvented by a few members acting on their own. He affirmed that no ward had the authority to expel a state chairman without due process and ratification by the appropriate organs of the party.

The new appointment was, however, endorsed by Assistant Legal Adviser of the party, Yusuf Mukhtar, who said Abiya’s appointment was in line with the provisions of the NNPP constitution.

The acting chairman of NNPP promised that the par-ty would do justice to all manner of poeple and remain loyal to Kwankwaso and Yusuf.

On the other hand, the ward chairman of Rangaza ward in Ungogo Local Government Area, Yushau Umar, suspended the Commissioner for Local Government, Alhaji Muhammad Tajo, and the council chairman, Tijjani Aminu, over alleged anti-party activities.

Chairman of APC in Kano State, Abdullahi Abbas, said the party was ready to receive Yusuf into its fold ahead of his defection.

Speaking on behalf of the party’s national leader and former Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, Abbas said APC was prepared to formally welcome Yusuf and all other NNPP appointees and members,

He added that the planned reception would be conducted “in an atmosphere of mutual respect and collective responsibility”.