Agbo Major, the factional national chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has defended the party’s recent convention in Lagos, calling it legal and legitimate.
Major was on Tuesday elected as the national chairman of the NNPP at a convention held at the RockView Hotel in Apapa, Lagos state. The event was attended by delegates and party officers at both national and state levels.
However, notable party figures, including Abba Yusuf, the governor of Kano state, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, the ex-presidential candidate of the NNPP, were absent from the convention.
In response, Ajuji Ahmed, another factional national chairman, criticized the convention, declaring it “illegal” and asserting that the NNPP remains under his leadership.
At a press conference in Abuja on Saturday, Major explained that the convention provided an opportunity to ratify key decisions, including the expulsion of the Kwankwassiya group. He also stated that the convention ratified the expulsion of Kwankwaso and rejected the purported new logo of the party.
“The recent judgement of the Abia High Court dated 1st November 2024 unequivocally compelled INEC to hand our party to its board of trustees led by Dr Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam pending the resolution of all issues in courts,” Major said.
“You also recall that the same judgement mandated the BOT to activate all other organs of the party as contained in the party’s constitution (2022 as amended) to enable it to run seamlessly.
“In total compliance with this court judgement, all necessary correspondences were made with INEC and on the 13th of January 2024, the congresses commenced with Wards nationwide. It continued days after with the local government and states as well as the zones.
“However, the national convention which was to be held on 22nd January 2025, was temporarily halted due to an interim order of an FCT High Court.
“It was, however, concluded on the 4th of February 2025 at the Rockview Hotel in Apapa Lagos after the lifespan of the interim order elapsed.”
