Friday, April 4, 2025 - A High Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has rejected a lawsuit filed by a faction aligned with Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, which sought to challenge the leadership of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) under Chief Dr. Boniface Aniebonam and National Chairman Dr. Agbo Major.
The lawsuit, initiated by Dr. Ahmed Ajuji and 20 other
individuals, aimed to invalidate the authority of the NNPP’s Board of Trustees
(BoT) and its executive leadership, including Barr. Tony Christopher Obioha,
National Secretary Comrade Oginni Olaposi, and Deputy National Chairman Chief
Felix Chukwurah.
The plaintiffs requested that the court prevent these
leaders from holding meetings, organizing congresses, or overseeing the party’s
National Convention, asserting that they had been expelled from the party.
However, Justice M.A. Hassan ruled that the court lacked
jurisdiction to hear the case, emphasizing that internal matters such as party
leadership and membership fall outside the court’s purview.
“The law, as affirmed by both the Court of Appeal and the
Supreme Court, is clear: courts do not intervene in internal political party
matters, except when it concerns the nomination of election candidates,”
Justice Hassan stated.
This ruling follows a similar decision from the Abia State
High Court (Suit No.: HUZ/11/2024) on November 1, 2024, which had reaffirmed
the legitimacy of the NNPP’s Board of Trustees led by Dr. Boniface Aniebonam
and upheld the validity of the party’s congresses and National Convention.
Defendants’ counsel, Segun Fiki Esq., praised the judgment,
calling the case an attempt to manipulate the party’s leadership through the
legal system.
“The court’s decision is clear—this is a matter outside its
jurisdiction. The NNPP’s legitimate leadership has been affirmed, and we now
expect the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize and
cooperate with the duly elected officials of the party,” Fiki said.
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