The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has formally dissociated itself from its 2023 presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, following his recent verbal attacks on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). In a statement released on Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Lagos, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Oginni Olaposi, apologized to President Tinubu and APC National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje for what it described as “unwarranted insults and abusive statements” made by the former Kano State governor.
Dr. Olaposi emphasized that Kwankwaso no longer represents the NNPP, having been expelled from the party along with his loyalists in the Kwankwasiya Movement. “Senator Kwankwaso was expelled from the NNPP long ago and does not represent the party’s position. He should stop using the NNPP’s name to make inflammatory statements or attack the Presidency and the APC,” Olaposi stated.
The NNPP cited multiple court rulings validating Kwankwaso’s expulsion, including judgments from the Abuja High Court on April 3, as well as decisions from the Abia State and Federal Capital Territory High Courts, all upholding the actions taken by the party’s National Working Committee. Olaposi also noted that many of Kwankwaso’s supporters have defected to the APC, further distancing the NNPP from his political direction.
“Kwankwaso is now simply the leader of the Kwankwasiya Movement. He has no official ties with the NNPP, and we urge the media and public to stop identifying him as our member,” he added.
Kwankwaso had recently denied reports claiming that President Tinubu asked him to rejoin the APC and also refuted claims that he would rather leave politics than return to the ruling party.
This clear break between the NNPP and Kwankwaso marks a significant development in Nigerian politics, as the party seeks to maintain its distinct identity and distance itself from the controversies surrounding its former presidential candidate.