The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Katsina State recently dismissed several of its top leaders, including deputy governorship candidate Muttaqa Rabe-Darma and state party chairman Sani Liti.
The party’s Director of Media and Publicity, Nasiru Usman-Kankia, explained at a press briefing in Katsina on Friday that the officials were terminated for engaging in activities that were detrimental to the party’s interests, including endorsing the All Progressive Congress candidate, Dr Dikko Radda, on Thursday.
The statement reads, “As you are already aware, a section of the state executive leadership of the party convened an unauthorised meeting on Thursday, March 9, the decision of which almost rocked the party.
“An emergency exco meeting comprising 19 out of 29 members was conveyed to discuss the immediate and remote causes of the illegal meeting.
“Facts have emerged that the illegal meeting was unconstitutionally convened without the consent of the state executive committee.
“It was also discovered that even when invitations were sent for the illegal meeting to state and local government exco members and ward chairmen, they were informed that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss and disburse funds for the settlement of polling unit agents and ward coordinators.
“However, at the illegal meeting, the APC gubernatorial candidate was ushered in and the NNPP state chairman, Liti, the party’s governorship running mate, Rabe-Darma, and other top executives introduced other members present as decampees to the APC.
“Almost immediately, the entire arena turned chaotic with shouts of NNPP slogans and chants of no, no, no, by the party’s loyalists,” Usman-Kankia narrated.
He said that Dr. Radda, the APC candidate, made it clear that the discussion he had with the NNPP members was regarding forming an alliance rather than switching parties. However, the NNPP spokesperson remembered that on March 5, the party cautioned its members, officials, and candidates against forming any kind of alliance with other political parties.
“Accordingly, party officers, members and candidates at all levels are not authorised to discuss, negotiate or form any alliance with any political party for the purpose of winning the upcoming governorship and legislative polls.
“Anyone who endorses a candidate of another political party will be sanctioned in line with the NNPP Constitution, ranging from suspension to expulsion.
“Our emergency meeting considered and decided to expel the officials and members involved in the illegal forum, subject to the approval of the party’s national executive committee.
“They are state Chairman, Sani Liti; state Secretary, Umar Jibril; youth leader, Mustapha Basheer; Katsina zonal Chairman, Dauda Kurfi; Funtua Zonal Chairman, Abdulhadi Mai-Dawa; Daura zonal Chairman, Dr Sale Mashi; deputy governorship candidate, Rabe-Darma and Sen. Audu Yandoma,” according to Usman-Kankia.
