KANO, Nigeria— Justice Usman Na’aana of the Kano State High Court on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, has overturned the suspension of Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, a former Kano State governor and the 2023 presidential candidate for the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP.
Kwankwaso had been suspended from the party by a faction led by NNPP chieftains Boniface Aniebonam and Agbo Major.
The suspension, announced on August 29, 2023, was for a period of six months and was grounded in allegations that Kwankwaso had engaged in “anti-party activities” by meeting with politicians from other parties.
The group, controlling the NNPP Board of Trustees, had also accused him of “financial impropriety” connected to the “mismanagement of public funds.”
Justice Na’aana granted an interim injunction that restrained Aniebonam, Major, and 16 other respondents from “parading themselves as national officers or leaders of the NNPP” pending a full hearing.
The court ruling represents a significant reprieve for Kwankwaso, who finished fourth in the 2023 presidential elections.
The injunction puts a hold on the internal factionalism within the NNPP, at least until the court hears the case in full.
The next court date is set for October 5, 2023.
The Aniebonam and Major group had alleged that Kwankwaso was seen engaging in political discussions with President Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate; his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Atiku Abubakar; and Labour Party (LP)’s Peter Obi.
The group had stated that “material evidence” was available to support these claims, which had led to Kwankwaso’s subsequent expulsion over his “failure to appear before the Disciplinary Committee.”
Legal analysts believe that the High Court’s decision is a notable juncture in Kwankwaso’s political career, especially as the NNPP grapples with internal divisions.
The move could either pave the way for reconciliation within the party or deepen the rift between its factions.
“It’s not just a win for Kwankwaso but also a cautionary signal for political parties,” says political analyst Aisha Bello.
“They have to follow due process and internal democratic principles before making such heavy-handed decisions that could affect the future of their party.”
As both sides prepare for the October hearing, the injunction has temporarily frozen the political chess game, creating a hiatus in which the NNPP will have to resolve its internal conflicts or risk fragmentation.
