The founder of New Nigeria People’s Party, Aniebonam Boniface Okechukwu, has asserted that the Kwankwasiyya group remain expelled from the party.
Aniebonam made this assertion at a press conference held on Tuesday at the NAGAFF Headquarters/NNPP Annex office, Apapa, Lagos.
The conference, organized to update the public on developments after the recent Abia State high Court ruling shifting control of NNPP to its BOT under the founder’s watch, was an interactive session between the journalists and the founder.
Aniebonam who also doubles as life member Board of Trustees for the party, informed that activities of the party are now safely in the hands of its BoT under his watch.
He said that the likes of Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, Buba Galadima and the entire Kwankwassiya group masquerading as NNPP members are inconsequential under the present circumstances and the law.
According to him, “The news of the recent Abia State high Court judgement compelling INEC to hand over New Nigeria People’s party management to its Board of Trustees and developments thereafter is heartwarming.
“However, it is important to note that the party is now safely in the hands of its BOT and so characters like Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, Buba Galadima, Ladipo Johnson long expelled from the party before the judgement cannot speak for the NNPP but for their kwankwasiyya group which was part of us before the 2023 election but have long exited after the election as we have repeatedly explained to the public.
“It is very simple to understand the level of ill advice Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has been getting from these questionable characters around him who lack competence in their chosen endeavors. They choose to stay around the man to enable them to service their stomachs instead of going to practice their trade if they have any,” he declared.
Aniebonam equally challenged the Intelligent Quotient of Senator Kwankwaso’s lawyer, Ladipo Johnson, for failing to differentiate between a declaratory judgement and an executory order/judgement of Court.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the press, does one need to be a lawyer to know the following facts: That a Federal high Court and a State high Court are both courts of coordinate jurisdiction? That no matter how fraudulent a judgement might be (as presently alleged by Barrister Ladipo Johnson), one needed to vacate such order/ judgement directly or through an appellate court?
“Does it mean that Barrister Ladipo Johnson representing Senator Kwankwaso and Buba Galadima cannot differentiate between a declaratory judgement and an executory order or judgement of court?
“As a lawyer, does it mean that Barrister Ladipo Johnson does not know that except this compelling order is vacated in the Appeal Court and or Supreme Court that senator Kwankwaso, Buba Galadima and the entire officers of the party have been dissolved and sacked?
“Barrister Ladipo Johnson should be told that a stay of execution order does not apply on declaratory judgements of a high Court. Barrister Ladipo Johnson needed to be told that a declaratory judgement may not need service noting that the subject matter is INEC’s inability to exercise its authority in administration and management of statutory functions as it relates to regulation of political parties and their activities.
“Barrister Ladipo Johnson should be told that INEC was in court to defend itself before the ruling and or judgement was pronounced.
“It is therefore trite to note that under the circumstances the actions of Barrister Ladipo Johnson representing Senator Kwankwaso and Buba Galadima amount to a contempt of court. We will therefore approach the court to draw their attention to this as soon as possible.
“Our sincere advice is that instead of this noise in the air space, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Buba Galadima should approach the Appeal Court and seek for intervention, if he had the locus,” he stated.
The Founder further revealed that the Board shall be meeting on Friday, November 8, 2024 to take specific decisions in accordance with the compelling court order, appealing to all members of the party to remain calm and law abiding in the face of extreme provocations of the Kwankwasiyya agents led by Ladipo Johnson.
In his words, “Indeed the compelling order is for INEC to exercise its authority of regulation and control of political parties in Nigeria under the law.
“It is our belief that after 24 hours of this compelling order INEC should now invite the Board of Trustees of the New Nigeria People’s Party in accordance with the court order to amend their records.
“We appeal to all members of the party to remain calm and be law-abiding in the face of extreme provocations of the Kwankwasiyya agents led by Ladipo Johnson.
“Please note that we are children of God, victory is surely ours as we only came to separate fights and must not be rewarded with blood stained hands.
“It is our hope that Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and Buba Galadima shall respect themselves as citizens of Nigeria going forward.
“All the elected senators, members of Federal House of Representatives and State Assemblies under the canopy of New Nigeria People’s Party, I want to say to you people my children, come to me in Lagos and take your party.”
