NNPP Legal Adviser affirms BoT lacks authority to suspend party members
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Reports of the suspension of Rabiu Kwankwaso from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) are false, says the party’s Legal Adviser Robert Hon, who affirms the Board of Trustees (BoT) lacks the constitutional authority to suspend the presidential candidate.
Hon explained the only competent body to suspend Kwankwaso is the NNPP National Executive Committee (NEC) which must follow due process in doing so.
He described the purported suspension of Kwankwaso as a figment of the imagination of a non-existent BoT which has since been dissolved.
“Kwankwaso has been and is still a bona fide card-carrying member of the New Nigeria Peoples Party. Any faction, claiming to have suspended him is illegal, as BoT is simply an advisory organ and lacks the constitutional power to suspend or expel any member of the party,” Hon clarified on Arise Television.
Hon disclosed the party held an emergency meeting in Abuja where stakeholders from the 36 states and Abuja passed a vote of confidence in Kwankwaso.
“Board of Trustee members are mere Advisers and lack any power to suspend or sack any member, as only the NEC is vested with the power to suspend sack.”
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New national officers
The BoT had announced the suspension of Kwankwaso for six months over alleged anti-party activities.
It also
- Suspended the NNPP National Working Committee (NWC).
- Suspended NNP founder Boniface Aniebonam and National Publicity Secretary.
- Appointed 20 new national officers headed by Agbo Major as acting National Chairman and Ogini Olaposi as acting National Secretary.
Agbo told The PUNCH that although Kwankwaso was not present when the decision to suspend him was taken, the faction is not losing sleep over his suspension.
“No, he (Kwankwaso) wasn’t present. But it should also be noted that the founder of the party was not at the meeting when he was purportedly suspended. That’s the way it is,” Agbo said.
“I took the decision pending investigation, just the same thing they did to the founder. I can tell you with confidence nothing will happen to our party.”
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