The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) says it is not worried about its exclusion from the forthcoming Kano State House of Assembly by-elections, insisting that the party has already achieved what it set out to do.
Speaking on the development in an interview with DAILY POST, NNPP spokesperson, Engr. Ibrahim Abdullahi Karaye, said the party’s interest was never about winning the seats at all costs, but about ensuring that the sons of late lawmakers were given the opportunity to take over their fathers’ positions.
“All we wanted was to help them out after their parents’ demise, and we have achieved our goal even if they are not running on our platform,” Karaye said.
The by-elections are being conducted to fill the vacant Kano Municipal and Ungogo seats in the Kano State House of Assembly following the deaths of the lawmakers who represented the constituencies.
Karaye explained that the NNPP had earlier agreed to support the children of the deceased lawmakers.
“Think about it this way,” he said.
“It’s like you are preparing to send someone to Hajj and you are told they have already been paid for by someone else. It’s all the same; the goal is for that person to go to Hajj anyway, so it doesn’t matter how they get there.”
According to him, confusion over the candidates’ fate began after the defection of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, which unsettled the young aspirants.
“After the governor’s defection, the young men were confused about their candidacy. They initially went to the governor’s camp, but later discovered that their names had been withdrawn and replaced by others,” Karaye said.
He said the aspirants later returned to the NNPP leadership, where they were reassured.
“They rushed back to meet us and we assured them that we don’t backtrack. As far as we are concerned, they would still be submitted as our candidates,” he said.
Karaye said the party was surprised when the All Progressives Congress (APC) later submitted the same individuals as its candidates.
“I don’t know what prompted the APC to re-evaluate whether out of goodwill or fear of possible consequences, but they went ahead and submitted their names as their candidates as well. We have no issues with that,” he said.
“Since we have achieved what we wanted for the orphans to take over their fathers’ seats, why should we now start putting people against them?” he added.
The NNPP’s comments come amid controversy over its exclusion from the by-elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kano State, Ambassador Abdu Zango, had earlier disclosed that although 10 political parties submitted candidates for the polls, only nine were approved by INEC headquarters.
According to Zango, the approved parties are Action Alliance (AA), Action Democratic Party (ADP), African Democratic Development Party (ADDP), Accord Party, Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Young Progressives Party (YPP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), leaving out the NNPP.
The party has been embroiled in a leadership crisis, with multiple factions laying claims to legitimacy in Kano. While a group loyal to Dr. Boniface Aniebonam submitted a list of candidates and backed it with court judgments, the Kwankwasiyya faction opposed the move, insisting the party has no valid executive leadership in the state.
It was gathered that Hon. Nabil Sarki Aliyu, son of the late Kano Municipal lawmaker, and Sa’ad Aminu Sa’ad, son of the late Ungogo lawmaker, eventually emerged as candidates under the APC platform.
Addressing concerns that this could strengthen the APC’s numbers in the Kano State House of Assembly, Karaye dismissed the suggestion.
“The people who are now with the APC were with us before. They won on our platform. So adding two more won’t change anything,” he said.
The NNPP now holds only two seats in the Kano State House of Assembly following the resignation of 22 of its members to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), which has seized a commanding majority in the 40-member chamber.
“The governor already took our mandate to them and we are still standing, so this is nothing.
“When it is time for 2027 election, we will show our strength. Remember before the 2023 election, NNPP didn’t even have a single councilor but by God’s grace, we will be victorious once again and show that the people of Kano are still with Senator Rabi’u Kwankwaso.” Karaye emphasized.
Karaye also spoke on speculations about a possible defection of the Kwankwasiyya movement leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, from the NNPP to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
He said no option could be ruled out.
“Our leader has been in politics for over four decades. He knows politics is about strategic calculation,” Karaye said.
“If after weighing all options he decides moving to another party is the way forward, we will do that. If staying in NNPP is the best option, we will also announce it when the time is right.”
“As you know, politics is not done in secret rooms. It is a public affair, and the public will be informed of all our movements,” he added.
