Kano NNPP Suspension Crisis: Senator Kawu, others fight back

An intense political drama is unfolding in Kano State, as Senator Kawu Sumaila, Ali Madakin Gini, Sani Abdullahi Rogo, and Kabiru Alhassan Rurum have rejected their suspension by the Kano State chapter of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) over alleged anti-party activities.

The four lawmakers dismissed the suspension as a “fraudulent political gimmick” designed to deceive the public and distract from the failures of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s faction.

In a joint statement, they described Hashimu Dungurawa, the Kano State NNPP chairman, as a “political puppet of Kwankwaso” lacking credibility to speak on NNPP matters. They emphasized that the Abia High Court judgment of November 1, 2024, affirmed Dr. Boniface Aniebonam as the only legally recognized NNPP leader, expelling Kwankwaso and his loyalists.

The lawmakers accused Kwankwaso of turning the NNPP into his personal empire, disregarding party unity, democratic principles, and basic courtesy. They cited his refusal to attend the wedding of Senator Kawu’s daughter and the convocation of Al-Istiqama University, despite formal invitations, as evidence of his deep-seated political insecurity.

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“His deliberate absence, especially in the presence of APC National Chairman Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Deputy Senate President Senator Barau Jibrin, former Governor Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, and other national figures, was a petty and calculated attempt to undermine political opponents,” they stated.

The lawmakers further alleged that Kwankwaso has “weaponised division and manipulation” within the party, using tactics like the suspension to maintain control. They described the suspension as “laughable” and “baseless,” emphasizing that Kwankwaso’s faction has already been expelled from the NNPP and holds no authority.

“This reckless move is not just illegal; it is a desperate act by a faction that has already been expelled from the NNPP and holds no authority whatsoever,” they added.

The suspension crisis has exposed deep-seated divisions within the Kano State NNPP, with Kwankwaso’s faction facing allegations of authoritarianism and disregard for party democracy. The lawmakers’ rejection of the suspension has set the stage for a prolonged battle for control of the party in Kano State.

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