The New Nigeria Peoples Party says it is backing any political action Governor Abba Yusuf may take in the face-off between him and Rabiu Kwankwaso.

In a statement by its national chairman, Agbo Major, the party said that as its sole governor and leader, Mr Yusuf needed NNPP’s support to succeed in Kano.

“Kwankwaso may have been instrumental in nominating Yusuf to power, but as governor, he has to be allowed to excel rather than being distracted by the unnecessary politics of personal interest.

“Kano state is not only very vital in the 2027 general elections but very important to the NNPP, and so, we cannot allow Kwankwaso and the Kwankwasiya Movement to continue to meddle to destroy what the party gained.

“Kwankwaso was our 2023 presidential candidate who was later expelled for anti-party activities. His personal relationship with the governor should not interfere with governance in Kano state, or with which political party the governor wishes to join.

‘The NNPP finds it unbelievable that the same Kwankwaso who betrayed its founder, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, is lamenting about the alleged betrayal of trust by the Kano governor,” said the statement.

The party explained that Mr Kwankwaso betrayed the trust of the NNPP by trying to hijack it after the 2023 elections, when the memorandum of understanding with him and his Kwankwasiya Movement ended.

“It was the various litigations by Kwankwaso that led to the mass defection of our members in Kano state to other political parties. We won’t sit and watch Kwankwaso continue to pull down the Kano governor through his utterances and blackmail.

“Kwankwaso should take a cue from the ruling APC that supports President Bola Tinubu to excel without dictating to him as president. His escalation of litigations in the NNPP was responsible for his lost grip on his followership in Kano state and the Kwankwasiya movement.”

According to the statement, NNPP has lost electoral grounds and has not participated in some past elections due to the ill actions of Mr Kwankwaso.

“Under the circumstances, it’s apparent that the desire of the executive governor of Kano state to decamp to APC is reasonable and responsible,” the NPP statement said. “However, the position of our great party is that Yusuf should not leave the NNPP but take responsibility as the leader of our great party and propel it to greater opportunities.”

(NAN)