The National Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Ladipo Johnson, has said the party will survive its internal crisis in Kano State, despite dissolving all party structures and facing speculation over the possible defection of its only sitting governor, Abba Yusuf.
In an interview with ARISE News on Saturday, Johnson said the decision to dissolve the Kano State, local government and ward executive committees was taken to restore order and safeguard the party’s constitution.“Indeed, we believe and know that we will survive no matter what happens,” Johnson said.
“Unfortunately, we’ve had issues in Kano State.”
Johnson explained that the crisis began when some party members attempted to remove the NNPP chairman in Kano through what he described as unconstitutional means.
“Some members of the party attempted to suspend or remove the state chairman, and the National Working Committee stepped in because our constitution does not allow an officer at the state level to be removed from his ward,” he said.
“It was an illegality, and we stated that.”
According to him, the party’s national leadership concluded that dissolving all existing structures was the most effective way to stabilise the situation.
“The party felt that the best thing at the present moment was to dissolve all structures, all executive structures, from state level down to the ward level, and that we have done,” Johnson stated.
“Hopefully, in the coming week, caretaker committees will be put in place to run the affairs of the party in the state.”
Responding to concerns that the move could hasten Governor Abba Yusuf’s reported plans to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Johnson dismissed the claim, saying the party’s actions had no bearing on the governor’s decisions.
“I do not believe that anything that we did or could have done would accelerate the action of the governor,” he said.
“One of his most trusted aides, the Director-General of Protocol, came out to announce that the governor and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso were going to be moving to the APC, and Senator Kwankwaso made it clear that there had been no such discussions.”
Johnson said the NNPP acted pre-emptively after those reports surfaced.
“The party found out that it had to take some sort of preventative, pre-emptive action just to ensure that we maintain some form of stability in the party in Kano State,” he explained.
While acknowledging divisions within the party, Johnson said the NNPP leadership believed it was not the right time for defections, especially as national-level negotiations were ongoing.
“It is unfortunate that some people, who may be led by the governor, feel that they have to move at the present time, whilst the majority of the party believe that this is not the time,” he said.“Negotiations are going on at the national level, and they have reached advanced stages with several political blocs.”
He added that political talks and realignments were not unusual at this stage of the electoral cycle.
“Naturally, no party at the moment is sitting idle,” Johnson said.
“This is 2026. We’re going to have primaries this year, and election campaigns will begin later in the year. This is a time for parties to strengthen their bases, and the NNPP is no different.”
Johnson stressed that the national leadership would not allow factions to act independently of the party’s central authority.
“If you have some part of the party going solo, not acting within the confines of the national leadership, then it is unfortunate,” he said.
“The national leadership has to make sure that it takes steps, which we took, to ensure that things remain as stable as possible.”
On the party’s 2027 strategy and leadership direction, Johnson said no final decision had been taken.
“We’re not saying that our leader must contest the presidency, neither are we saying he shouldn’t,” he said.
“It depends on what is on ground.”
He expressed confidence that ongoing consultations would place the party on firmer footing ahead of the elections.
“If he is talking to people and groups, and the national leadership is also talking to different people and groups, and there’s a meeting very soon, end of January or February, then we will be at a safe place,” Johnson added.
Boluwatife Enome
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