National Working Committee (NWC) of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), yesterday, said that the party has approached the court to help restore sanity in the party.

It also noted that results of investigations have made it clear that some external forces are behind the recalcitrant people in the party and their shenanigans. The NWC alleged that their main target is Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.

The NNPP Disciplinary Committee Chairman, Ladipo Johnson, disclosed this in Abuja, during a press briefing, saying that those who have been suspended from the party do not have the constitutional powers to expel the party’s candidate for the February 25 presidential election, Kwankwaso.

It would be recalled that the same members of the party expelled Kwankwaso, following his alleged refusal to appear before the party’s disciplinary committee.

Johnson said: “We know their limitations according to the NNPP constitution, Electoral Act, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines, and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

“But since their mission, in collaboration with our detractors from outside the party, is to create confusion and distraction, the party, as a law abiding organisation that believes in the rule of law, decided to approach the courts to put a stop to their evil machinations of disrupting our programmes for subsequent elections.

“To this end, the NNPP, as a party, approached the court to help restore sanity in the polity. It is an open secret that these former members are not backed by law in all they are doing. The arrow heads have ceased to be members of the party by virtue of their suspension/expulsion.

“However, in view of their backing from the opposition, we needed to use the instrumentalities of the law to protect the sanctity of the party.

“Therefore, the party, in a suit No: K/M1157/2023 of September 4, 2023, has been granted an interim order of injunction, pending the determination of the Motion on Notice, which stops the defendants, by themselves, their agents, cronies, and whosoever is acting through or for them, from parading themselves, issuing press releases, granting interviews, among others, as officers, leaders or members of the party.”