A faction of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), led by its National Secretary Ogini Olaposi, has firmly declared that Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the party's 2023 presidential candidate and former Kano State governor, will not be allowed to contest on the NNPP platform for the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Lagos, Olaposi attributed the decision to ongoing disputes between the NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya Movement, emphasizing that Kwankwaso and several top loyalists remain expelled due to alleged anti-party activities following the 2023 polls.
Key highlights from Olaposi's statement include:
The Memorandum of Association signed with the Kwankwasiyya Movement in 2022 expired after the 2023 general elections.
"Anti-party activities by some members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement after the presidential elections led to the expulsion of top members, including Kwankwaso, Elder Buba Galadima, and others, which has not been reversed."
The 2027 presidential ticket will be open only to bona fide members of the NNPP, unlike in 2023 when it was exclusively granted to Kwankwaso.
The party already has aspiring presidential candidates, including two from the NNPP diaspora, and remains open to more aspirants as well as alliances with like-minded political parties.
Olaposi further downplayed Kwankwaso's political influence, describing it as "overrated" and no longer capable of impacting electoral outcomes:"Kwankwaso’s influence as a former governor of Kano State is long gone and cannot affect Tinubu’s votes in Kano State in 2027."
Many strategic members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Kwankwaso lacks the nationwide "selling capacity" comparable to President Bola Tinubu, whose 2027 prospects are rooted in the APC's performance as the ruling party rather than personal influence.
This development underscores the deepening factional rift within the NNPP since the 2023 elections.
Courts, including the Abia State High Court and the Federal Capital Territory High Court, have reportedly affirmed the expulsions and recognized the current National Working Committee (NWC) endorsed as credible as the legitimate body for party affairs and alliances.
Olaposi urged any political groups interested in collaborating with the NNPP ahead of 2027 to engage exclusively through the party's NWC, warning that Kwankwaso and his group "remain expelled and cannot negotiate for the NNPP."
As Nigeria's political landscape heats up toward the 2027 general elections, the statement signals the faction's intent to rebuild the party independently, focusing on internal democracy, openness to new aspirants, and potential ideological partnerships while firmly closing the door on Kwankwaso's return as its flag bearer.
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