By Jude Michael
Leaders of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the South East Zone, have affirmed last month’s expulsion of its presidential candidate, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso, from the party.
The party leaders from the South East states, who converged on Awka, the Anambra State capital for a zonal executive conference, said Kwankwaso and members of his Kwankwasiya group had ceased to be members of the party.
There has been crisis in the party following allegations that Kwankwaso, who contested for president in the last February 25 election, had perfected plans to hijack the party from its founder, Dr Boniface Aniebonam.
Deputy National Chairman of the party, Mr Felix Chukwurah, who presided over the conference, said there was no going back on the expulsion.
‘Kwankwaso flew many miles, during the COVID-19, when there was restriction of interstate movement, to come to Anambra to beg our party’s founder, Boniface Aniebonam, for him to be the presidential candidate of the party.
‘He entered into an MOU with the party and he was allowed to run on the platform. We didn’t know he had a sinister motive which was to hijack the party.
‘He was not lucky because elections are over and the MOU he signed to be in our party expired since elections have finished. So he should go and leave us alone,’ Chukwurah said.
The conference, while affirming the expulsion of Kwankwaso, also passed a vote of confidence on the founder of the party, Boniface Aniebonam, and the National Chairman, Dr Major Agbo.
Prince Kelechi Apugo; Acting state chairman of NNPP in Abia State and his Enugu State counterpart, Mr Chuba Nwadiogbu, moved and seconded the motion.