NNPP faces internal crisis in Kano amid rising defections

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) ascended to power in Kano State in 2023 with overwhelming grassroots support, largely driven by the influence of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and the Kwankwasiyya movement.

However, less than two years into its administration, internal cracks are emerging, raising concerns about the party’s stability and its chances in the 2027 elections.

Recent defections to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), rising dissatisfaction within the party, and governance challenges have fueled speculation about the NNPP’s ability to maintain its dominance in Kano.

On Monday, the Kano State chapter of the NNPP announced the suspension of Senator Kawu Sumaila (Kano South) and three members of the House of Representatives—Aliyu Madaki (Dala Federal Constituency), Sani Rogo (Rogo Federal Constituency), and Kabiru Rurum (Rano, Kibiya, Bunkure Federal Constituency).

State party chairman Hashimu Dungurawa cited disloyalty and non-compliance with party directives as reasons for their suspension.

He accused the lawmakers of repeatedly ignoring key party activities, including major events organized by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and Kwankwaso.

“The governor has undertaken several projects in their constituencies, yet they never showed up. Kwankwaso organized events in both Kano and Abuja, but they were absent. During our recent nationwide committee meeting, all stakeholders attended except them, and they never offered any explanation,” Dungurawa stated.

He also accused Senator Sumaila of inviting key APC figures to his daughter’s wedding and the commissioning of his university projects while sidelining NNPP stakeholders.

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“The people who fought against him in 2009 and 2023 were present at his events, while those who helped him secure his political position were sidelined. This is why we had to act,” Dungurawa added.

However, the suspended lawmakers have rejected the party’s decision, calling it illegitimate and driven by Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s faction.

In a joint statement on Monday, the lawmakers accused Kwankwaso of running the party like a personal empire.

“Hashimu Dungurawa, a political puppet of Kwankwaso, lacks any credibility to speak on NNPP matters. This so-called ‘suspension’ is nothing but a fraudulent political gimmick designed to deceive the public and distract them from the monumental failures of Kwankwaso’s faction,” they declared.

They further accused Kwankwaso of using the NNPP as a tool for personal vendettas.

“Politics should be about service, integrity, and development, not a tool for dictatorship. Unfortunately, in Kano State, Kwankwaso has turned the NNPP into his personal empire, disregarding party unity and democratic principles.”

On Tuesday, the NNPP’s national leadership, through its National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Oginni Olaposi, dismissed the suspension as “null and void.”

“The memorandum of understanding (MoU) between NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya Movement ended after the 2023 elections. The faction claiming to suspend these lawmakers lacks the authority to do so. We appeal to the people of Kano to disregard their pronouncements,” Olaposi stated.

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He also referenced a court ruling that placed the NNPP under the leadership of its Board of Trustees Chairman, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, arguing that Kwankwaso’s faction has no legal standing to act on behalf of the party.

Meanwhile, Comrade Khatimul Kulkul, Senior Special Reporter to the Kano State Governor, defended the suspension, stating that it was necessary to protect the party from internal crises.

“Internal crises are the most dangerous for a party,” Kulkul said. “Someone may appear to be with you, but in reality, they are not. Such individuals could be leaking party secrets and agenda to outsiders.”

He further explained that NNPP had come to the realization that the suspended lawmakers were not genuinely aligned with the party’s interests.

“If we go into 2027 with them, they will create problems for us. This is why we decided to do away with them now to prepare for the next elections. If we had allowed them to stay, they would have shown their true colors closer to 2027.”

Despite the defections, Kulkul insisted that the Kwankwasiyya movement remains strong.

“Aminu Dabo left us, but no matter how prominent Kawu Sumaila thinks he is, he is not at the level of Aminu Dabo or Adamu Yusuf Dangwadima. Many have left before, but that has never stopped us from succeeding.”

Political analyst Abba Gwale has highlighted the deepening factional struggle within the NNPP in Kano, warning that it could weaken the party’s chances in the next elections.

“There’s a faction in the party, one led by Dungurawa, who has the backing of the Kano State government, and the other led by Zarewa. But you know, it’s politics; internal issues are bound to arise, especially as we approach the 2027 general elections,” Gwale said.

He noted that unless the party resolves its internal disputes, its prospects in 2027 could be jeopardized.

“The party is not in a good position heading into 2027 unless they sit down, amend their differences, and prepare for the politicking ahead,” he added.

However, Gwale believes the NNPP still enjoys significant support in Kano due to the influence of the Kwankwasiyya movement and its infrastructural efforts.

“People still trust the party in Kano because it’s new and hasn’t exhausted the patience people have for it. In terms of infrastructural and human development, the NNPP under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf is trying,” he said.

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Meanwhile, the APC remains a formidable opposition force, benefiting from federal backing. The party’s leaders, including Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and former governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, are actively strategizing to reclaim power.

The APC National Chairman, Ganduje, recently announced that more NNPP members would soon defect to the ruling party. Similarly, Rep. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), boasted that the NNPP would be defeated in Kano before 1 p.m. on election day in 2027.

Political observers note that defections from the NNPP to the APC could signal deeper trouble for the ruling party in Kano.

“When people in government, despite all the benefits of being in power, start leaving for the opposition, then something is not working as it should. The NNPP must address this before it’s too late,” Gwale cautioned.

With the 2027 elections approaching, the political battle for Kano is heating up, and the NNPP faces an uphill task in maintaining its hold on the state amid rising internal strife.