NNPP Blames INEC for Delay in Conducting Primaries, Threatens Protest

 

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) faction led by Dr Boniface Aniebonam has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of frustrating its activities through delays in recognising the party’s leadership and concluding processes necessary for participation in future elections.

The party said the delays have affected its screening exercises and prevented it from fixing dates for primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the party’s National Secretary, Mr Ogini Olaposi, said the NNPP might be forced to mobilise supporters for a protest in Abuja over the matter.

The party had earlier suspended a planned protest against INEC following appeals from Nigerians who feared the demonstration could be hijacked by hoodlums.

Olaposi alleged that INEC’s actions were pushing the party “to the wall” and could deny it the opportunity to fully participate in the 2027 elections.

“We used all legal means via the courts to get the commission to comply with court orders and stop the unnecessary delays which we believe is linked and masterminded by those who left the NNPP,” he said.

He referred to a meeting held on May 19 between NNPP leaders and the INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, alongside members of the commission’s management team at INEC headquarters in Abuja.

“The INEC chairman said the commission will revert soon and till date, it is yet to comply with the court order that gave it 72 hours to upload the NNPP National Working Committee led by Dr Agbo Major,” Olaposi stated.

The party said it was unfortunate that INEC had allegedly refused to obey court orders, warning that such actions send the wrong signal ahead of future elections.

“INEC do not have the powers to disobey court orders. In every instance of any order of the court, the only option available to INEC is to obtain a stay of execution or secure an appeal from a higher court to set aside the judgment or order of the court, which it has not done,” he said.

According to Olaposi, a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja had directed INEC to deregister the faction linked to Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and replace it with the National Working Committee led by Dr Agbo Major.

The court also ordered the commission to restore the party’s original logo, colour, and symbol within 72 hours and file an affidavit of compliance within 14 days.

“Sixty days after, the commission is yet to comply with the order of the court. The Owerri Appeal Court followed suit and yet, INEC leadership is adamant,” he added.

The NNPP maintained that INEC must remain neutral as a regulatory agency.

“How will a commission continue to uphold the leadership and logo of the Kwankwasiya movement, even when Nigerians know that Kwankwaso and his supporters are members of another party?” Olaposi asked.

He further claimed that Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, Buba Galadima, Dr Ahmed Ajuji, and the group’s spokesperson, Ladipo Johnson, are now members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

“We keep wondering who is left from the group to still be claiming NNPP members and causing confusion that INEC has failed to see,” he said.

The party insisted that the issue goes beyond internal politics and concerns the integrity of the judiciary and constitutional order.

“Our right to protest is guaranteed by the Constitution. We can’t sit back and watch INEC continue to deny us the right to participate in an election as a duly registered political party in Nigeria,” Olaposi stated.

He added that the delays had already affected the party’s participation in some off-cycle elections.

“We have missed opportunities to participate in some off-cycle elections due to delays by the commission. We won’t let it happen again. This injustice must be corrected as we press for enforcement of court orders of the trial court of Justice Bello Kawu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja,” he said.