The crisis within the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Kano State has deepened. On Sunday, a faction rejected the outcome of the recently concluded national convention in Abuja, dismissing it as illegitimate.
The factional chairman of the NNPP in Kano, Mas’ud Doguwa, described the Kwankwaso-led convention as illegal and conducted without due process.
Speaking to journalists, Doguwa emphasized that his faction remains committed to the rule of law and would not recognize party activities that violate existing court orders. “As a former senator, I respect the rule of law, and we should all respect the courts. You cannot build a democratic party on illegality”, he said.
He added that the convention was neither inclusive nor nationally representative, with key stakeholders excluded. “That was not a national convention. What they held was just a Kano convention or, at best, a Kwankwasiyya meeting. They never contacted us. That was simply a group meeting of one faction”, he said.
Doguwa stressed that genuine reconciliation must precede any credible convention or leadership arrangement, warning that imposed leadership would deepen divisions. “If there must be peace in the NNPP, a sincere reconciliation committee must first be set up. Until that is done, whatever they are doing will not unite the party”, he added.
Addressing speculation that his faction supports any aspirant ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly the Kano governorship race, Doguwa said it was too early for endorsements. “A lot of our members are aggrieved. There is no basis for endorsing any candidate now. For now, we are not supporting anybody”, he said.
The tension follows the Abuja convention, where the Kwankwaso-led faction re-elected Ahmed Ajuji as National Chairman unopposed, with Dipo Olayoku returned as National Secretary and other members of the National Working Committee confirmed. In his acceptance speech, Ajuji pledged to advance the party’s objectives with a focus on winning the 2027 general elections.
However, Doguwa maintained that without broad-based inclusion and adherence to legal processes, the convention’s outcomes would continue to face resistance from aggrieved factions.
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