The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Katsina has taken decisive action against its own members who were involved in alleged anti-party activities.
The party sacked Rabe Darma, running mate of Nura Khalil, its governorship candidate in the state, and expelled other executives, including the state chairperson, secretary, youth leader, and zonal chairpersons.
According to Nasiru Usman-Kankia, NNPP director of media and publicity, who briefed journalists on Thursday in Katsina, the sacked members were involved in an illegal meeting to form an alliance with the All Progressive Congress (APC).
“As you are already aware, a section of the state executive leadership of the party convened an unauthorised meeting on Thursday, March 9, the decision of which almost rocked the party,” Usman-Kankia said.
“Facts have emerged that the illegal meeting was unconstitutionally convened without the consent of the state executive committee. It was also discovered that even when invitations were sent for the illegal meeting to state and local government exco members and ward chairmen, they were informed that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss and disburse funds for the settlement of polling unit agents and ward coordinators.”
“However, at the illegal meeting, the APC gubernatorial candidate was ushered in and the NNPP state chairman, Liti, the party’s gubernatorial running mate, Rabe Darma, and other top executives introduced other members present as decampees to the APC. Almost immediately, the entire arena turned chaotic with shouts of NNPP slogans and chants of no, no, no, by the party’s loyalists.”
Usman-Kankia warned members of the NNPP against endorsing or forming an alliance with any other party, saying that anyone who endorses a candidate of another political party will be sanctioned in line with the NNPP Constitution, ranging from suspension to expulsion.
“Our emergency meeting considered and decided to expel the officials and members involved in the illegal meeting, subject to the approval of the national executive committee of the party.”