NNPP says Kano by-election exclusion won’t affect plans, highlighting support for late lawmakers’ children and confidence in 2027 elections
The New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) has said it is not concerned about its exclusion from the forthcoming Kano State House of Assembly by-elections, insisting the party has already achieved its primary goal.
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NNPP spokesperson Engr. Ibrahim Abdullahi Karaye said the party’s aim was never solely to win the vacant seats but to ensure that the sons of deceased lawmakers were given the opportunity to take over their fathers’ positions.
“All we wanted was to help them out after their parents’ demise, and we have achieved our goal even if they are not running on our platform,” Karaye said.
The by-elections, designed to fill the Kano Municipal and Ungogo seats following the deaths of the previous lawmakers, initially saw confusion among the young aspirants after Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Karaye explained that the aspirants had briefly joined the governor’s camp, only to discover their candidacies had been withdrawn, before returning to NNPP leadership for reassurance.
The APC later submitted the same individuals as its candidates, a move Karaye described as irrelevant to NNPP’s objectives.
“Since we have achieved what we wanted for the orphans to take over their fathers’ seats, why should we now start putting people against them?” he said.
NNPP has been excluded from the polls by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which approved candidates from nine other parties, including APC, AA, ADP, ADDP, Accord Party, APM, PRP, YPP, and ZLP.
The party has also been embroiled in a leadership crisis in Kano, with competing factions challenging each other’s legitimacy.
Karaye dismissed concerns that the APC would gain an advantage from the inclusion of these candidates, emphasising that the individuals were previously elected under the NNPP platform.
He also reaffirmed the party’s confidence in the upcoming 2027 elections, citing past successes and the enduring support of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Responding to speculation about Kwankwaso potentially defecting to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Karaye said, “Our leader has been in politics for over four decades. He knows politics is about strategic calculation. If after weighing all options he decides moving to another party is the way forward, we will do that. If staying in NNPP is the best option, we will also announce it when the time is right.”
Also read: NNPP Denies Rabiu Kwankwaso Discussed Joining APC
The NNPP currently holds two seats in the 40-member Kano State House of Assembly following the resignation of 22 members to join APC.
