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  • NNPP parleys Africa’s 15th richest man ahead of 2027 elections

    NNPP parleys Africa’s 15th richest man ahead of 2027 elections

    Leadership of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has kicked off the first of its talks for the 2027 presidency with International Award winner, Dr Sami Charles.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Charles was recently featured in Forbes as the 15th richest African and fourth richest Nigerian.

    The meeting which was held at the residence of NNPP Founder, Dr Boniface Aniebonam on Sunday in Lagos, had some NNPP executives nationwide,  including its  National Chairman, Dr Agbo Major in attendance.

    Charles, was accompanied by many distinguished Nigerians including the wife of Olubadan of Ibadanland, and daughter of late Dr  Nnamdi Azikiwe, Olori Joyce Anene Balogun,  and Prof. Steve Azaiki, a former Secretary to the  State Government of Bayelsa  under Dr Goodluck Jonathan.

    Also on the entourage were, Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku,  wife of the presidential hopeful, Anita Ayodele-Charles, and the Dan Maliki of Lagos, Dr Dahiru Aliyu among others.

    Recall that President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines, in November 2023, presented the GUSI Peace Prize Award to Charles as the Most Dynamic African Businessman of the Year 2023.

    The GUSI award, Asian equivalent of the international Noble Prize Award, was received by Charles, a business Mogul and Lawyer, and a former presidential aspirant of the Labour Party, in Manila, the capital city of the Philippines.

    The award was in recognition of Charles’ substantial contributions to peace, global investments and egalitarian service to humanity in diaspora, particularly in Nigeria.

    Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, Aniebonam disclosed that Charles was to have been the NNPP presidential candidate in 2023, before Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso  emerged as the party’s flag bearer.

    Aniebonam, however, said  the meeting, which is like a homecoming for Charles, does not foreclose participation of other Nigerians for the NNPP ticket in 2027.

    “This is just the beginning. The stakes are higher now and the NNPP ticket is open to all Nigerians including Kwanwkwaso, and we will be fair to all our aspirants.

    “The only snag is that whoever will emerge as our candidate, must be of like mind. The only thing at stake is greater Nigeria.

    “This is a continuation of a journey started in 2001, a lot of personalities have come our way but we need someone with the acumen, character and wherewithal to deliver,” the NNPP Founder said.

    On if it was not too early for the party to begin negotiations for 2027, the NNPP founder said: ” There is nothing early about this dialogue. Contesting for the presidency is a huge task and 2027 may seem far but very near.”

    On Charles as the NNPP candidate, Aniebonam said:  “No doubt Charles is a big shot. He has pedigree in line with the NNPP mandate, he is charismatic but we will give chance to everyone. The choice will be determined by members.”

    Also speaking, Charles said he held no grudges for not picking the NNPP ticket in 2023 as it was not a do or die affair.

    “I also will not have grudges if I do not emerge as their candidate in 2027. Am open to competition but hopeful of getting the ticket as  a vehicle to offer service to Nigeria.

    “Aniebonam has laid  the foundation for us to continue. I read the NNPP manifesto and felt that’s where I belong.

    “Anyone who shares our aspirations is free to join. I believe in our first generation politicians. Am an adherent of Zik. They were politicians. What we have now are merchants.

    “Nigeria is bleeding. We must begin to genuinely salvage Nigeria,” he said.

    The presidential hopeful, however, urged Nigerians to support the current administration, noting that: “it does not matter who is president, he or she should be supported within their time frame for the benefit  of Nigerians.

    “Whether or not You like your President, You must support him because only God can make a King and animosity will only mar our progress as a nation.

    “Not supporting whoever is in power to grow the nation is disservice to Nigeria and Nigerians,” he added.

    Charles has been honoured with several awards and conferred with various chieftaincy titles in Nigeria and Ghana.

  • NNPP Founder opens up over Supreme Court verdict on Taraba governorship election

    NNPP Founder opens up over Supreme Court verdict on Taraba governorship election

    Dr Boniface Aniebonam, founder of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) says the party is disappointed with the Supreme Court’s ruling, dismissing NNPP’s petition against the 2023 Taraba governorship election outcome.

    Aniebonam,  who expressed this on Friday in Lagos, however, said  the party had decided to move on and look ahead for a new Nigeria in future elections.

    Urging party members and loyalists to be law abiding, the NNPP boss said: “We leave it at that and look ahead in the future for the emergence of a new Nigeria of our hope and dreams.

    “The mantra of new hope for Nigeria must be our guiding principles.”

    Expressing disappointment, Aniebonam said that understanding the party’s loss of victory in Taraba  ” is of man in the physical other than spiritual rhymes.

    “Those who thought they have won are the actual losers because the justice system of God did not prevail but that of man.

    “In particular,  the registrar of the tribunal who did not disclose the actual records of proceedings for the use of the appeal court and the supreme Court.

    “Under the circumstances,  the appeal court and the Supreme Court cannot build on nothing in making decisions in relation to justice system of the Supreme Being.

    “Supreme Court is supreme in the physical and the law and there is nothing anyone can do at the moment .

    “The God of the NNPP is reactionary with high responses to injustice to man, society and even the dead,” Aniebonam said.

    Recall that the Supreme Court on Thursday,  upheld the election victory of Agbu Kefas of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 Taraba governorship election.

    Kefas’ victory at the polls was challenged by NNPP and its candidate, Prof. Yahaya Sani at the Taraba Governorship Election Tribunal and Appeal Court before the party approached the apex court for justice being unsatisfied with rulings of the lower courts.

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja had upheld the judgment of the Taraba State Governorship Election Tribunal which affirmed Kefas as the duly elected governor of the state.

    The NNPP had prayed the courts below to invalidate the governor’s election for non-compliance with the 2022  Electoral , adding that he didn’t score the majority of lawful votes cast.

  • Taraba: We’re hopeful of victory just like Kano– NNPP founder

    Taraba: We’re hopeful of victory just like Kano– NNPP founder

    The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) says it is hopeful of reclaiming its alleged governorship victory in Taraba at the Supreme Court, billed to deliver its judgment on Friday.

    Members and leaders of the party in collaboration with the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) expressed this hope during a special prayer session on Wednesday in Lagos for the party and its candidate, Prof. Sani Yahaya.

    The prayer session organised by the NNPP’s founder, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, is to seek God’s intervention in the NNPP’s appeal on the 2023 Taraba governorship election.

    The suit is before the apex court , and the prayers are also to thank God for the party’s victory in Kano State.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Gov. Kefas Agbu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship election in Taraba, which the NNPP and its candidate had rejected.

    Yahaya and his party challenged the result and asked the tribunal to nullify Agbu’s victory on the grounds that the election was marred by non-compliance with the Electoral Act, alleging that Agbu did not get the majority of lawful votes cast.

    However, the Taraba Governorship Election Tribunal led by G.A Sunmonu on Sept. 30, 2023, held that the petitioners failed to prove their allegations.

    The NNPP and its candidate went further to appeal the tribunal’s judgment but the appellate court on Nov. 28, 2023, dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit.

    However, dissatisfied with the judgment, the NNPP and its candidate approached the Supreme Court, insisting that they were denied justice.

    Addressing party members during the prayers, Aniebonam said: “Prayers means communication with God. We want to thank him for what He has done before and looking ahead to what is coming in Taraba.

    “For Kano, we are done with that and today we are here to celebrate our victory. Today again we want to ask for more as regards our case in Taraba.

    “Now that the Supreme Court ruling is coming up on Friday, we have come back again to God like we did before the Kano Supreme Court’s ruling, for Him to intervene.

    “Nothing is above God, we have seen it in Kano, especially when there is a case of injustice to the people and of course the society.

    “The mandate was given to our party in Taraba, I am sure God will not allow it to go. Moreso, the judiciary has taken up responsibility to redefine their role as the hope of the common man.”

    The NNPP boss said that Nigerians were very happy with what happened in Kano when the lone NNPP’s Gov. Abba Yusuf won his mandate back at the Supreme Court.

    “We look forward to replicate that in Taraba,” he said.

    Aniebonam urged the generality of NNPP members, loyalists and leaders to keep faith alive ahead of the Supreme Court’s ruling.

    “Whatever is the outcome, let us remain law abiding,” the NNPP boss said.

    On the estranged chieftains of the party, Aniebonam said it was time for them to come back and build the party to rescue the country.

    “My role as the father of the party is to ensure that everyone is brought together and work in one spirit.

    He said that what was going on in the party was normal internal crisis.

    Pastor Joel Ozor, who led scores of NAGAFF and NNPP members in prayers, appreciated God for answering the party’s prayers on the Kano governorship tussle in favour of the party.

    The cleric said the party also needed God’s favour and mercy in the Taraba governorship tussle to get justice at the Supreme Court.

    He described God as a covenant keeper, who remained faithful and consistent in all His ways.

    He led party members in fervent prayers to call on God to give the NNPP victory in Taraba.

    He urged the party to put their trust in the Lord in the battle, saying God would direct the path of every Justice of the Supreme Court.

    Ozor also led the people in prayers for mercy for NNPP leadership, including its estranged 2023 Presidential Candidate, Dr Rabiu Kwanwkwaso and some other officers now allegedly working against the party.

    “Ahead of the Supreme Court’s judgment, we put God in front and we believe God will take the lead and fight the battle. Let there be victory for NNPP,” Ozor prayed.

    He prayed God to grant Justices of the Supreme Court wisdom and courage to protect the mandate of Yahaya without intimidation and harassment.

     

  • Tussle: NNPP wants INEC to update NEC records

    Tussle: NNPP wants INEC to update NEC records

    The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has urged  the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to update its records on the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) membership.

    The party in a statement on Saturday by its Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Dr Temitope Aluko, also urged the media to respect the NNPP constitution by recognising only officers duly elected in accordance with the party’s constitution.

    Aluko said that NNPP chieftains like Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso and the entire membership of the old National Working Committee (NWC) led by Alhaji Abbah Kawu had since been expelled and INEC appropriately and duly informed in that regard.

    He noted that INEC had no powers to meddle in the internal affairs of a political party.

    “Once again, may we use this public space to remind the INEC, through its Chairman, that we have requested for the urgent need to update their records of the National Executive Committee of the NNPP.

    “It is instructive to indicate herein that the constitution of the NNPP is supreme and binding on all members, without prejudice to the overarching Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act.

    “With the nation’s Constitution being the unquestionable groundnorm, every other establishment in Nigeria derives its powers of establishment and operations from the said Constitution,” Aluko said.

    According to him, the mandate and powers of INEC to register, control and regulate political parties are constitutionally provided and the party is aware of this.

    “However, INEC does not have powers to meddle in the internal administration and management of political parties.

    “Otherwise, it will be  tantamount to avoidable breach of the constitutional rights of Nigerians to freely associate.

    “What we try to put across herein is simple and unambiguous.

    “The extant powers of the board members of the NNPP in relation to resolution of the party’s internal matters are very clear.

    “The board has powers to call to order,  any member  who acts contrary to the its norms,” he said.

    The BOT chairman said that NNPP chieftains like Kwankwaso, Elder Buba Galadima and the sacked and defunct National Working Committee, NWC, led by kawu had  been in gross abuse of the constitutional provisions of the new NNPP with impunity.

    According to him,  the unceremonious exit of its former National Chairman, Prof. Rufai Alkali, Prof. Angwe Samuel and Sen. Suleiman Hunkuyi among others were pointers that all was not well with the internal administration of the party.

    He decried issues bothering on corruption, high handedness, lack of transparency and accountability on the part of the defunct NNPP National Working Committee (NWC) members.

    “All these avoidable acts of gross misconduct led to the invitation of the concerned persons by the Board of Trustees for explanation but they refused to provide answers to the queries.

    “Indeed, the board had to invoke its inherent powers by calling them all to order and decisively expelling them.

    “The action of the board, having subsequently been ratified by the General Assembly of the Party, has been communicated to the Chairman of INEC, and the commission duly acknowledged same and pledged to update its records.

    “The surprising and very embarrassing thing today is that INEC is still dealing with the expelled members of the party.

    “This is aside the fact that this matter is pending before a Federal High Court, with INEC duly served and notified,” Aluko said.

    He said that while the party acknowledged the powers of INEC to regulate and control political parties, the commission should be seen to act as a neutral body to all political parties and try to respect the internal administration of each of the parties.

    According to him, under these circumstances, it shall be more responsible on the part of INEC as a regulator, having received a notification, to invite both parties with a view to ascertaining facts and be in a better position to make an informed decision.

    ” The chairman of INEC, and the commission itself, shall take a cue from the judiciary at the moment and strive to add value to the ethos of democracy, rule of law and conflict resolution,” he said.

    On the media, Aluko said that the practitioners should know that there was no faction in the NNPP.

    He added: “Rather, Kwankwaso and the entire membership of the old NWC led by Kawu have since been expelled and INEC appropriately and duly informed in that regard.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the new principal officers of the NNPP are Dr Gilbert Agbo Major as the National Chairman, Comrade Ogini Samuel as the Secretary General and Dr TKO Aluko as the Chairman, Board of Trustees.

    “Dr Aniebonam Boniface is the Founder and Spiritual Leader of the NNPP and Gov.  Abbah Yusuf of Kano State is the Leader of the Party.”

    He said that the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) should be allowed to operate without any strings from the INEC.

    “By so doing, we shall be adding value to the cause of genuine democracy in Nigeria,” he said.

  • We will conduct credible LG elections in Kano – NNPP

    We will conduct credible LG elections in Kano – NNPP

    The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Kano State has assured of a free, fair and credible local government election scheduled to hold later in the year.

    The Chairman of the party, Alhaji Hashimu Dungurawa, gave the assurance while speaking to newsmen in Kano on Tuesday.

    “As a democratic party whose ideals are people-oriented, we will ensure a hitch-free, free and fair local government election later this year,” Dungurawa said.

    He said part of the democratic disposition of the NNPP administration in the state was that it allowed all the APC local government chairmen to serve out their tenure.

    “When we inherited the APC Local Government Chairmen from the previous administration, we allowed them to continue in office and gave them all their due recognition till their tenure ends soon,” he said.

    Dungurawa said the NNPP government extended the same gesture to officers in public service whom they inherited from the APC government, including the then Head of the Civil Service.

    He thanked the people of the state for their support and prayers before, during and after the Supreme Court judgment that affirmed Kabir Yusuf as the duly elected executive governor of the state.

    He assured that the NNPP administration would continue to deliver dividends of democracy to the people of state so as to enhance their well being.

    Such dividends, he said, included provision of quality education, healthcare, water supply, roads as well as security of lives and property.

  • NNPP says Supreme Court judgement is restoration of hope for Kano

    NNPP says Supreme Court judgement is restoration of hope for Kano

    The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) National Secretary, Dipo Olayoku, has described the Supreme Court judgement affirming the election of Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano State as the restoration of hope for the people of the state.

    Olayoku in an interview on Friday in Abuja said the judgement was also a confirmation of victory God gave NNPP on March 18, 2023.

    “The party is just appealing to politicians to try to win election through the ballot boxes and not through the back door.

    “I think the Supreme Court has deflated that and we want the other arms of judiciary to also stand up to the truth,” he said.

    Olayoku, who is also the Deputy National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), said that the judgement did not come to the party as a surprise, because everybody knew that NNPP won the March 18, 2023, governorship election in the state.

    He said there was no way the All Progressives Congress (APC) could have claimed to have won the election in the state where the NNPP won the presidential election, won two out of three Senatorial seats, and 18 out of 24 House of Assembly seats.

    “In the governorship elections, we defeated APC with about 200,000 votes, in the House of Assembly of 40 seats, we have 26. So what will be the yardstick for them to win governorship.

    “We thank God that the Supreme Court have restored the hope of the people,” he said.

    He said that though the governor was never distracted by the petition in delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of the state, with the outcome from the court he was now poised to do more.

    “Now that the court cases have been put behind us, I know the governor is going to be more focused on delivering the dividends of democracy,” he said.

    He assured the people of Kano that Yusuf would continue to implement his master plan and blueprint for the state, while building on the template and achievements set by the NNPP leader, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, who was once the governor of the state.

    “He cannot go below the standard set by Kwankwaso when he was governor.

    “If you look at what he has been doing since when he got there, you will discover that he had been hitting the ground running.

    “We can guarantee the people of Kano state that there is no cause for alarm. He already has his master plan and he is following it without any disruption,” he said.

  • Supreme Court judgment averted crisis in Kano – NNPP

    Supreme Court judgment averted crisis in Kano – NNPP

    The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Lagos State on Friday, lauded the Supreme Court’s ruling reinstating Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano, after loosing at lower courts.

    The Lagos State NNPP Secretary, Mr Sheriff Oladejo, told NAN in Lagos that the apex court had reaffirmed that only electorate determined who ruled over the people.

    Oladejo said: “The Supreme Court has done justices to the governorship election petitions, we give glory to almighty God for this overwhelming and unanimous decision of the highest court in the land.

    “For some of us, we are extremely surprised by the decisions of the two lower courts for the miscarriage of justices but Justice Okoro-led five man panel has done justice to this case.

    “Even, in his ruling, he also scolded the lower courts for what he described as voyage of discovery on the membership of Gov. Abba Yusuf to NNPP; because ordinarily, it is a matter for political parties to determine who their members are.

    “The good people of this country and particularly voters in Kano state knew who they voted for and who deserved to be their governor.”

    The party’s scribe commended the courage and commitment of the judiciary in reinstating Yusuf and averting serious political crisis in  Kano state.

    According to him, the ruling put to rest, all litigations against Yusuf’s mandate and also restore absolute confidence in the state government to provide most needed dividends of democracy to the people.

    “We use this medium to thank all members of NNPP family and the general public for the remaining resolute in claiming our mandate.

    “This will restore our hope and aspirations to do more for the good people of Kano state.

    “This is the time for the opposition political parties to join hands with the governor to move the state forward,” he said.

    The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the election of Yusuf as duly elected governor of Kano state.

    The apex court set aside the verdicts of the Court of Appeal and Kano state Election Petitions Tribunal, which nullified the victory of Yusuf in the March 18, 2023 governorship poll.

    A five-member panel of the apex court in a judgment delivered by Justice John Okoro, held that the tribunal and the court of appeal erred by sacking Yusuf as governor of the state.

    Yusuf and NNPP had filed an appeal against the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which had affirmed his sacking as earlier pronounced by the Kano State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.

    The tribunal had sacked Yusuf and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw his certificate of return and instead, issue same to Nasir Yusuf Gawuna, the candidate of the APC in the March 18, 2023 governorship election.

    However, not satisfied with the Tribunal judgment, Yusuf had approached the Appeal Court.

    But the appellate court had while affirming his sack, further held that the governor was not a member of the party as of the time of the election and could not have been said to have been properly sponsored for the election.

  • Kano guber poll: APC denies agreement with NNPP

    Kano guber poll: APC denies agreement with NNPP

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has refuted claim that it has entered into an agreement with the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), on the Kano Governorship Election.

    Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, the state APC Chairman, stated this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    “The rumours had it that the NNPP had reached out to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the matter in favour of the NNPP candidate to remain as governor and subsequently decamp to the APC.

    “There is no where such meeting was held with either the president or any leader of the party. President Tinubu is a democrat and strongly believes in the rule of law and the right thing to be done.

    “He therefore, will not be part of any arrangement or reconciliation to subvert justice and support people who have stolen votes or breach the electoral act to emerge as leaders,” Abbas said.

    He added that the APC as a party, was not aware of such arrangement and would instead intensify efforts to pursue its case at the Supreme Court to a logical conclusion.

    Abbas expressed confidence that the APC would emerge victorious at the Apex Court, especially because of the concrete and convincing evidence it presented at both the Tribunal and the Appeal Court which ultimately lead to its victory.

    On the possibility of a crisis breaking out in the state as a result of the Supreme Court judgement, Abbas said there was no tension in Kano.

    He said that the people of the state were happy with the recent developments emanating from the judgement of both the tribunal and Appeal Court and therefore anxiously waiting for the Apex Court to endorse the two concurrent rulings.

    “Kano is very peaceful and the people are conducting their normal businesses despite efforts by the NNPP to provoke and incite youth to create unnecessary political crisis in the state,” he said.

    He assured that the party would ensure harmonious and peaceful relationship with ethic groups and nationalities in the state no matter the provocation by the NNPP.

    The Kano APC chairman urged party supporters and Nigerians generally to ignore propaganda, provocation and remain calm.

  • Kano governorship tussle: Police send strong warning to APC, NNPP supporters

    Kano governorship tussle: Police send strong warning to APC, NNPP supporters

    The Kano State Commissioner of Police, Mr Husseini Gumel, on Friday, warned leaders and supporters of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the All Progressive Congress (APC) against any security breach.

    He issued the riot act ahead the Supreme Court ruling on the contentious governorship election in the state.

    Gumel spoke after a closed meeting with head of security agencies and leaders of the two major political parties and local government council chairmen in the state.

    He recalled that the police command had adequately attended to a number of plots by some faceless political pressure groups who are hell-bent on fomenting trouble and cause stampede on the prevailing general security situation of the state from being very peaceful.

    Gumel however appreciated the leadership of both the NNPP and APC for maintaining their position on standing by the peace accord the third time since they both signed the commitment to ensuring peace and orderliness across the state.

    “The heads of the joint security agencies meeting was held at this Police Headquarters where the security situation was reviewed and the security arrangements agreed upon to be put in place for ensuring no breakdown of law and order before, during and after the State Governorship Supreme Court verdict.

    “In addition, the meeting addressed some emerging security concerns with the leadership of both the NNPP, APC and some selected local government council chairmen.

    “At the end of the meeting, all the stakeholders reiterated their commitment towards sustaining the peace accord signed and to provide that is for every resident of the state to celebrate Christmas/New Year festivities and to stop panicking on the possibility of break down of law and order before and after the Supreme Court verdict on the upcoming governorship election petition.”

    He assured that the joint security agencies in the state would continue to remain committed to providing a safer and more secured environment for everyone in peace and for their businesses to strive.

    “We have paid courtesy visits to the religious leaders across the major faiths in the state and urged them to cooperate with all the security officials being part of the community-based policing approach the police command is being implementing.

    “The position of the joint security agencies in the state was made very clear.

    “It is a priority to all security agencies that we all pay attention to protection of lives and property and on their part endeavour to fish out those faceless groups planning to disrupt the peace being enjoyed in the state or advise them to sheath their swords as the combined security agencies have beamed the necessary searchlight on their activities.

    “We have also mapped out robust strategies to deal with any plan to end restiveness in the state. on anyone or group of persons found engaging in activities likely to cause disrupting the peace in the state to stop or will be dealt with according to the law,” Gumel said.

    He appreciated Kano state residents for their cooperation, support and understanding, “as the joint security agencies in the state will ever remain committed to the protection of the lives and properties of all.

    “In furtherance, I call on everyone to keep reporting any suspicious movement, person(s) or item(s) they come across to the nearest Police Station or through the following Kano State Police Command emergency contact numbers: 08032419754, 08123821575, 09029292926, or log in to the NPF Rescue Me Application available in the Play Store.

    ”Or through the following Online Media Platforms; Facebook: Kano State Police Command: Kano State Police Twitter, Instagram: Kano State Police Command (@KanoPoliceNG) Command, Tiktok: Kano State Police Command.”

  • 2027: PDP, LP, NNPP other opposition parties form coalition

    2027: PDP, LP, NNPP other opposition parties form coalition

    Opposition parties comprising of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the  Labour Party, New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and five other political parties have formed a coalition.

    The African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Young Progressives Party (YPP) and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) are also part of the coalition.

    Tagged ‘the Coalition of Concerned Political Parties (CCPP)’ was formed in Abuja yesterday at a meeting attended by leaders of the seven political parties at the National Secretariat of the SDP.

    Recall that the former Nigeria’s vice president and presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, had, last month, asked the opposition parties to come together to wrestle power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Speaking when he hosted the National Executive committee of the Inter-Party Advisory Council Nigeria (IPAC) in his house on November 14, Atiku had warned against the likelihood of Nigeria slipping to a one-party state and asked the opposition to close ranks.

    The other two leading opposition parties: the Labour Party (LP) and the NNPP had said the call ought to be given quality consideration.

    Meanwhile, addressing journalists after the meeting of the seven political parties, the chairman of the SDP, Shehu Gabam, clarified that the coalition is neither a merger nor was against the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC).

    Also speaking at the meeting, the acting National Secretary of the PDP, Setonji Koshoedo, who represented the acting party’s national chairman, Umar Damagum, explained: “This coalition wants to offer strong opposition for the good of Nigeria. Our duty is to offer alternative solutions to government policies.”

    On his part, the national chairman of the ADC, Chief Ralph Nwosu, said the idea behind the coalition “is to strengthen our democracy. We have seen that people in government are trying to stiffen viable opposition.