Founder of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, has dismissed reports that Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf resigned from the party, insisting that the governor only withdrew from the Kwankwasiya Movement led by Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Aniebonam made the clarification on Saturday while reacting to widespread media reports suggesting that the governor had dumped the NNPP.
He argued that Yusuf’s resignation letter was not addressed to the recognised leadership of the party but to an individual associated with the Kwankwasiya Movement in Kano.
“The NNPP NWC does not recognise the Kwankwasiya Movement ward chairman as chairman of the party,” Aniebonam said.
According to him, the letter was neither directed to the authentic National Working Committee (NWC) led by Dr. Major Agbo nor to the party’s state chairman or ward secretary, but to a member of the Kwankwasiya structure in Diso-Chiranchi Ward, Gwale Local Government Area.
The New Daily Prime reported Yusuf resigned alongside 21 members of the Kano State House of Assembly, eight members of the House of Representatives, and 44 local government chairmen in the state.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Tofa, on Friday.
In his resignation letter, Yusuf formally notified the party leadership of his decision to quit the NNPP with effect from Friday, January 23, 2026.
“I write with a deep sense of gratitude to formally notify the leadership of the New Nigeria People’s Party of my decision to resign my membership of the party, with effect from Friday, 23rd January 2026,” the governor stated.
Aniebonam, however, maintained that neither Yusuf’s exit nor that of other political officeholders is recognised by him in his capacity as NNPP founder and chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees.
He recalled that the party had earlier lifted the governor’s suspension and asked him to assume leadership responsibilities as its highest elected official.
“The NNPP lifted the governor’s suspension from its membership and directed that he take responsibility for its leadership, being the highest elected officer of the party,” he said.
He further cited court rulings affirming his faction’s leadership.
“You will recall that the Abia State High Court and the Federal Capital Territory High Court judgments directed INEC to recognise and hand over NNPP administration to the Aniebonam-led Board of Trustees.
“The FCT High Court also issued an enrolment order restraining INEC from dealing with or transacting any business with the Kwankwasiya Movement.”
Aniebonam described the Kwankwasiya Movement as a former pressure group within the party, noting that its memorandum of association had been terminated and its leadership expelled after the 2023 elections.
“The NNPP is a registered political party, whereas the Kwankwasiya Movement was a pressure group within the party.
“Yusuf and others in the legislative arm of Kano State won elections under the platform of the NNPP, using the party logo of the Basket of Fruits and not the Kwankwasiya insignia of a book and red colour.”
He attributed INEC’s failure to update its records to administrative issues rather than legal constraints.
“This has nothing to do with court judgments, which must be obeyed. Accordingly, the ongoing judicial review at the FCT High Court is to compel INEC to update its records.”
While acknowledging the governor’s personal decision, Aniebonam insisted the NNPP has no conflict with Yusuf.
“The reasons for Yusuf’s resignation are noted, but what is certain is that the NNPP has no issues with the governor and the personal decisions he wishes to make.
“We blame the trend of members in Kano wanting to opt out on the high-handedness of Kwankwaso, which is highly regretted.”
He urged party members to remain calm and focused ahead of the 2027 elections, expressing confidence in the party’s future prospects.
