After dumping PDP, Kwankwaso, loyalists take over NNPP

Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has emerged the national leader of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) after dumping the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Kwankwaso dumped the PDP on Tuesday, March 29 in Abuja.

Also, his loyalists clinched top positions in the 39-man new National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party seen as a third political force in the country.

Political scientist and former National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Prof. Rufai Alkali, emerged the National Chairman; AVM John Ifemeje (rtd), Deputy National Chairman; Dipo Olayoku, National Secretary; Sen. Suleiman Hunkuyi, National Organising Secretary and Maj. Gilbert Agbo (rtd), National Publicity Secretary.

At the event, Kwankwaso said he was impressed with the support by his loyalists and supporters of the party.

His words: “What remains is for all of us to go back to the grassroots, our states and local governments, to register ourselves and families and to tell all Nigerians to register with NNPP.

“We are all aware that the people are tired of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and PDP, hence previous elections recorded low voter turnout. We thank God that we have a fresh air for a new better Nigeria. People are tired and want change. NNPP is the fresh air that can do it.”

He berated the present administration for failing to tackle insecurity lamenting Monday’s train attack in Kaduna, leading to the killing, injury and abduction of passengers.

On his part, Olayoku, said: “I need to let you know the level to which Nigerians are disenfranchised and, as you can see, there is hunger everywhere. There’s despair, heavy infrastructural deficit.

“So going forward, for us as a party, the welfare of the people is a primary concern for three years. We want to be able to do things that are different from what the parties that have been in power in the past have not done.

“What we want to do is to ensure that every Nigerian is safe, wherever he or she is. They should feel that the government is discharging the primary responsibility of security. So security will be the major thrust of our administration.”