NNPP Disowns Planned Protest Against INEC, Describes Organisers as Expelled Members
The National Working Committee of the New Nigeria Peoples Party has distanced itself from a planned protest against the Independent National Electoral Commission scheduled for Tuesday, January 20, 2026, describing the demonstration as illegal and organised by individuals no longer recognised as party members.
In a statement issued on Monday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Ladipo Johnson, the NNPP declared that it has no involvement in the proposed demonstration, which is reportedly set to take place at the INEC headquarters in Abuja and across various states of the federation.
The party leadership said those behind the planned protest are impostors who have been falsely claiming to represent the NNPP despite having been expelled from the party and their status confirmed by a Federal High Court ruling.
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“Our attention has been drawn to reports that the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) intends to stage a protest march against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at the INEC headquarters in Abuja and across states of the federation,” the statement read.
“The NNPP wishes to use this medium to dissociate the party from the illegal ‘demonstration’ called by an illegal body claiming to be speaking on behalf of the NNPP.”
According to the party, the individuals organising the protest were expelled by the appropriate organs of the NNPP and ceased to be members following a judgment delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1354/2024 on April 18, 2024.
“These persons are not members of the party, as established by the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1354/2024 delivered on April 18, 2024, where Justice Emeka Nwite affirmed that they ceased to be members of the party following their expulsion by the appropriate organs of the NNPP,” the statement added.
The NNPP noted that despite the court’s ruling, the affected individuals have not filed an appeal but have instead continued what the party described as “forum shopping,” pursuing court orders without legal foundation while allegedly concealing material facts from the courts.
“It is their trademark to approach courts while concealing material facts. Once the courts are fully apprised of the true position, such actions are discarded,” the party stated.
The NNPP, which was registered by INEC in 2020, has been embroiled in internal leadership disputes since its formation. The party gained national attention during the 2023 general elections when it fielded Rabiu Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State and former Minister of Defence, as its presidential candidate. Kwankwaso finished fourth in the presidential election, but the party won the Kano State governorship through Abba Kabir Yusuf, who was sworn in on May 29, 2023.
However, internal disagreements and allegations of parallel leadership structures have continued to trail the party, with various factions laying claim to its control. These disputes have occasionally spilled into the courts, resulting in multiple legal battles over the legitimacy of party officials and the validity of decisions taken by rival organs claiming to represent the NNPP.
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The party’s statement on Monday appeared to be the latest attempt by the recognised National Working Committee to assert its authority and disown actions taken by individuals it no longer considers members.
Reiterating its position, the NNPP stressed that it was not involved in any protest slated for Tuesday and categorically described the organisers as impostors seeking to mislead the public and discredit the party.
The party also called on its members nationwide to remain calm and law-abiding despite what it termed provocations by elements bent on distracting the NNPP from its objectives.
“NNPP therefore urges all its members to remain calm and focused, even in the face of deliberate attempts to provoke or distract the party,” the statement concluded.