A leadership dispute within the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) took a significant legal turn on Thursday when a High Court in the Federal Capital Territory dismissed a lawsuit filed by a faction loyal to Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.
The lawsuit had been brought by Dr. Ahmed Ajuji and 20 other plaintiffs who challenged the legitimacy of the current leadership of the party, led by its founder, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, and National Chairman, Dr. Agbo Major. The plaintiffs sought to invalidate the authority of the party’s executive and Board of Trustees, which includes National Secretary Oginni Olaposi, Deputy National Chairman Chief Felix Chukwurah, and legal practitioner Tony Obioha.
The plaintiffs argued that they had been wrongfully expelled from the party and sought to restrain these officials from holding meetings, conducting congresses, or overseeing the party’s National Convention. However, Justice M.A. Hassan ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction over the matter, affirming that internal party disputes, such as leadership issues, fall outside the purview of the judiciary.
In his ruling, Justice Hassan referenced a clear legal precedent set by both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, which maintains that courts cannot intervene in internal political party affairs, except in matters related to the nomination of candidates for elections. “The position of the law, as upheld by the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, is clear: courts do not adjudicate on matters that fall within the internal affairs of a political party, except in cases relating to the nomination of candidates for elections,” the judge stated.
The ruling effectively dismissed all claims made by the plaintiffs, affirming the legitimacy of the leadership led by Dr. Agbo Major, and consolidating his position as the rightful leader of the NNPP. This judgment follows an earlier ruling by the Abia State High Court on November 1, 2024, which reinstated the Board of Trustees under Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, further validating the legitimacy of the party’s congresses and National Convention, which led to the election of the current leadership.
Reacting to the decision, Segun Fiki, counsel for the defendants, expressed his satisfaction with the court’s ruling, describing the case as an attempt by the Kwankwaso faction to unlawfully seize control of the party’s leadership. Fiki stressed that the ruling reaffirmed the rightful administration of the NNPP by Dr. Agbo Major and Dr. Boniface Aniebonam. “The court has spoken clearly—this matter is non-justiciable. The legitimate leadership of the NNPP has been affirmed, and we now expect the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to formally recognize and cooperate with the party’s duly elected officials,” he said.
On the other hand, the Kwankwaso faction expressed frustration with the ruling. Ladipo Johnson, the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, criticized the decision, claiming that Major and Aniebonam had misled the public. Johnson clarified that the lawsuit was not intended to challenge Major or Aniebonam directly but was aimed at individuals using the party’s name improperly. “The judge, wrongfully, I believe, said that this is an internal affair of the party. But does a lack of jurisdiction mean the same thing as affirming Major? They are just trying to spin it,” Johnson stated, hinting that a more detailed statement on the faction’s position would be released soon.
