Agbo Major, who serves as the factional National Chairman of the New Nigeria’s Peoples Party (NNPP), announced that the party's internal strife has been put to rest after a recent court decision. He downplayed any concerns regarding the party's trajectory in the absence of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS, Major emphasized that the party had established its structure long before Kwankwaso joined and is well-positioned following his departure.
The leadership turmoil within the NNPP emerged after the 2023 general elections, marked by power struggles among factions, particularly influenced by Kwankwaso and his associates. This dispute escalated to the Federal Capital Territory High Court, which ruled in favor of Major's faction on March 17, affirming its leadership status.
Major stated, “The court has provided clarity on the political situation, meaning the crisis is effectively over.
“Historically, NNPP has been successful in elections, which indicates that it has been structurally sound even before Kwankwaso's involvement. While he contributed positively, his exit does not alter our objectives, as we aim to build upon the foundation that existed before he came,” he remarked.
Responding to inquiries regarding the control of the party's headquarters, Major affirmed that he is currently the National Chairman.
“I am in charge. Before Kwankwaso joined, we were located in Wuse Zone 4 as our National Secretariat. He then moved us to one of his private properties in Asokoro. Following the onset of the crisis after the 2023 elections, we relocated to our new secretariat at Hassan Usman Katsina Street in Asokoro, which is our National Secretariat now,” he explained.
When asked if the NNPP could thrive without Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Major expressed confidence, asserting that the party's grassroots support was in place well before his arrival.
“Prior to his entry, the party had a significant following. Building a political entity around a single individual can pose risks; this became apparent during the turmoil from 2023 onwards. People have their individual followings, but the party's support existed long before Kwankwaso came along. We secured seats in Bauchi in 2019, which attracted Kwankwaso to us. Although he added value, it ultimately turned into a disruptive element that threatened the party's survival,” he elaborated.
Major reaffirmed that the NNPP has consistently operated transparently for 22 years and attributed the recent unrest to Kwankwaso’s faction rather than to the longstanding leadership of the party.
“Our faction—representing the original NNPP—has maintained trust, running this organization transparently for 22 years before recent arrivals. If there is blame to allocate, it should be directed at those who introduced conflict into a party that had functioned smoothly for over two decades,” he asserted.
Looking ahead, Major indicated that the party is preparing to nominate candidates for future elections.
“The paramount responsibility of any political party is to nominate candidates for elections, and we are acutely aware of that. We've previously fielded candidates like Kalu Idika Kalu in 2007 and Pastor Chris Okotie in 2003. Despite the challenges, our foundational structures have remained intact. We plan to announce our national convention within the mandated 21-day period, and we are making necessary arrangements,” he said.
Concerning potential reconciliation with the other faction, Major stated that they’ve kept the door open since June 2023, but have not received any proactive engagement; instead, tensions escalated.
“Democracy thrives on the ability to disagree constructively. We have kept avenues for reconciliation open since June 2023, but the opposing side did not take up the offer; they have only exacerbated the situation. We have never closed that door. Dr. Boniface Aniebonam is open to dialogue, yet circumstances have shifted due to experiences over the last three years,” he remarked.
On strategies for addressing insecurity in Nigeria, Major noted the importance of community involvement, as those committing acts of violence often reside within the targeted areas.
“Security concerns are fundamentally about the populace. The simplest way to address insecurity is to engage the communities directly, considering the assailants live among them. For the past 15 years, our approach has focused on the general public’s involvement. The NNPP is a party for the ordinary citizen, rather than one catering to elitist interests,” he stated.
Regarding fears of a potential one-party candidacy arrangement by the APC for the 2027 elections, Major rejected the idea, branding it a distraction and affirming NNPP's intention to find suitable candidates.
“If there are plans to maneuver any political party, particularly ours, into an APC scheme, the conversations should focus on those causing disruptions post-dismissal rather than our current work. Though discussions have sidelined our main agenda, our fundamental goal as a party is to put forward candidates. We have been bogged down by these discussions, but we remain dedicated to that mission,” he concluded.
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