“While we note the merger proposal, the stance of our party is clear: we are not interested in the merger offer at this point,” the NNPP spokesman said.
By Jeffrey Agbo
The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has rejected the request by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for the opposition to unite against the All Progressives Congress (APC) to avoid turning Nigeria to a one-party state.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, AbdulRazaq AbdulSalam, made this known in a statement on Thursday in Lagos.
“NNPP is an independent political group as such we stand firm in our commitment to respect all political parties and refuses to engage in merging with any party to combat another.
“Our party values inclusivity and maintains a non-partisan approach.
“It is crucial to note that those engaging the merger talk have been expelled from NNPP, and the party currently faces internal conflicts, pending court resolution.
READ ALSO:
Labour Party denies merger talks with PDP, others
“Until proven otherwise, these internal matters take precedence,” AbdulSalam said.
According to him, the resolution of the NNPP Board of Trustees (BOT) remains that the Abba Kawu-led National Working Committee (NWC) is dissolved and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso is expelled from the party.
“While we note the merger proposal, the stance of our party is clear: we are not interested in the merger offer at this point,” the NNPP spokesman said.
Crisis within the NNPP started when the NWC of the party loyal to Kwankwaso, announced the suspension of the NNPP founder, Boniface Aniebonam and the National Publicity Secretary, Agbo Major, on August 24.
Consequently, the National Executive Committee of the party announced the expulsion of Kwankwaso, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, following his alleged refusal to appear before the party’s disciplinary committee.
The crisis within the party has continued to fester.
