The New Nigeria People’s Party says the dissolution of the Kano State executive committees of the party at all levels stands and cannot be reversed by a court order.
This is contained in a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, in Abuja on Thursday.
Johnson said the reaction followed media reports that a High Court in Kano State had reversed the dissolution of the party’s executive committees at the state, local government and ward levels, in line with the NNPP constitution.
He said the party’s National Working Committee regards the purported reversal of its internal decisions by the court as “an ordinary street rumour” because it had not been served with any court process.
He said that while media reports indicated that the court, via an ex parte order by Justice Nasiru Saminu on Tuesday, allegedly granted an interim injunction to that effect, the party leadership was yet to be served with any court document.
Johnson said that if the court order was in any way confirmed, such action would clearly be inconsistent with legal procedures and established legal precedents.
He said it was evidently a misnomer for a judge to purportedly grant such an overreaching interim injunction against a completed action by the NWC of the party.
“We still regard the whole orchestration as a mere rumour. But if this is confirmed, we will take firm legal measures and ensure that the purported illegal injunction does not stand.
“Obviously, it can never stand because it is an illegality, a clear abuse of court process, as the court lacks the jurisdiction to reverse a decision by the party, being an internal affair of the party.
“The dissolution of Kano State executive committees of the party at all levels therefore stands,” he said.
Johnson explained that the Supreme Court, in a plethora of cases, had ruled that political party affairs were non-justiciable, as such matters were internal affairs of political parties.
“Therefore, the purported reversal by a Kano State High Court of the decision of the NWC of NNPP cannot be an exception.
“If the reported injunction of this nature is confirmed to be true, then it could only be described as an exercise in legal rascality,” he said.
Johnson added that in established instances of this nature, the NNPP would have no option but to take all necessary measures to ensure that the judicial officers involved were duly sanctioned by the National Judicial Council.
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar on Friday said that millions of Nigerians are switching political allegiance out of sheer necessity, saying their primary concern is survival.
Atiku’s remark was contained in a statement released by his media office in reaction to the defection of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He criticized the growing trend of opposition governors joining the ruling party.
Atiku argued that the spate of defections reflects mounting pressure and political intimidation rather than genuine support, alleging that the administration of Bola Tinubu is deploying state institutions to harass rivals in an attempt to edge the country toward a one-party system.
Atiku maintained that intimidation tactics cannot distract from the severe economic realities confronting citizens, pointing to escalating food prices, deepening poverty, deteriorating security, and widespread joblessness, which he blamed on ineffective economic management.
“While some governors may switch parties to protect their own interests, ordinary Nigerians are changing political camps because they are fighting to stay afloat.
“Governors may defect for personal survival. Nigerians are defecting in their millions because they want survival,” Atiku said.
He urged citizens not to equate political cross-carpeting with popularity, questioning what the APC would campaign on in 2027.
“What will the APC campaign on in 2027 — hunger? hardship? hopelessness?” He asked.
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has vowed to resign if President Bola Tinubu does not win the 2027 general elections.
Okpebholo made this vow on Friday during an interview on African Independent Television, AIT.
He reeled out development projects in the state, saying that Edo people will appreciate Tinubu through the ballot come 2027.
“Edo people have not even thanked Tinubu. How they will thank him is through their votes.
“The various projects across the state are the things that will speak for Tinubu and he will win here. Bet me, if he doesn’t win, I will resign as governor.
“There’s no election here for him. I’m a politician, who under-studied Chief Aneni. My style of politics is not thuggery but grassroots,” he said.
The Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, on Friday defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress, bringing to an end months of speculation over his political future.
In a 14-minute statewide broadcast from his new governor’s office, the governor announced that he had decamped with his entire cabinet and all PDP officials, stating that his decision was in the developmental interest of the people of Adamawa State.
Immediately after the broadcast, Peoples Democratic Party flags were dismantled in the governor’s office and across the Government House.
He said, “Fellow citizens of Adamawa State, I address you today in this manner due to the magnitude of what we have at stake, the regard we have for you and the consistent support we have always enjoyed from you.
“In 2019, you voted for us overwhelmingly against an incumbent. In 2023, you repeated the same feat with even greater strength in spite of all odds. We have remained popular in your hearts, and so has our party, the PDP. We are conscious of the moral burden imposed on our shoulders by your collective mandate.”
The governor said the decision to join the APC with his entire cabinet, PDP officials and supporters was in the best developmental interest of the people of Adamawa State.
“We have structures everywhere. We are moving into the APC with all the 226 wards, 21 local government areas, all elected and appointed members and indeed our energy and political machinery to confer benefits on our state, the nation and our people. I therefore call on all our supporters to fit in, register massively in the APC and gear up for a future that is assured.”
“Recent events in the polity demand that we take decisive and strategic decisions. There are seasons for political exigencies just as there are seasons for political expedience. We have come this far and built so much with the people that we are ready to move further to align our polity with national politics.
“It is on this basis that we have never, as a government, ventured into anything that does not grow our dear state or directly benefit our people. We have always been guided by the triple principles of consultation, legality and impact.
“As democrats, we consult with the people. As citizens, we interrogate how every decision we make aligns with extant laws; and as leaders, we weigh the impact of every decision on the state and our people.
“The decision to leave the PDP and join the APC was not taken lightly. It was not driven by personal ambition nor by convenience. It was guided by one overriding consideration: the long-term stability, development and prosperity of Adamawa State.”
Fintiri displaying a broom. Photo: Emmanuel Ande.
Fintiri further disclosed that after wide consultations with a broad spectrum of Adamawa people, “we have resolved to politically align Adamawa State with the All Progressives Congress.”
The governor said the political alignment would enable Adamawa State to effectively support and leverage the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which, according to him, aims to transform the nation in critical sectors, including social welfare, infrastructure, housing and inclusive economic development.
“It was the late Senate President, Dr Chuba Okadigbo, who once said, ‘It takes political sagacity to know political arithmetic.’ In our case, we have been long enough in this game to know the value of our strength and the right steps to take. This isn’t elementary arithmetic; it is political geometry that places every number in its right place.
“In ideal democracies, alignments that confer mutual advantages are constant norms. Our alignment with the APC is a testament to strategic adaptability. It is sagacity in action. This is a reciprocally beneficial decision that reflects a pragmatic approach to politics — conferring electoral value while delivering democratic dividends to the people,” he stated.
Fintiri said his decision to join the APC meant the years of sideline politics were over and that Adamawa State was back in mainstream politics, “a politics that will benefit it more than ever before. It means more opportunities for the state and more stake for our people. These, for us, are the main motivations that define our calling to politics.”
Speaking to journalists, the Adamawa State chairman of the Commissioners’ Forum, Mr Aloysius Babadoke, said all the commissioners had joined the APC in the state.
“Wherever our governor goes, we are going with him because he is a trusted leader and he has the mind to develop Adamawa State and unite the people through his people-oriented policies,” he said.
The governor was registered in the APC with membership card number 001.
As a prelude to the governor’s defection, 15 out of the 16 elected members on the PDP platform in the state House of Assembly on Wednesday defected to the APC along with the Speaker, Bathiya Wesley.
The rumours of Fintiri’s defection began in 2024 when the Adamawa State APC Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Mohammed Abdullahi, granted an exclusive interview to Punch and confirmed that the party was wooing the governor to join the APC.
