Some Kaduna State Stakeholders of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) on Sunday staged a protest at the party’s secretariat, calling for the substitution of the state governorship candidate, Suleiman Hunkuyi.

The stakeholders told journalists that Mr Hunkuyi could not deliver the state for NNPP in the 2023 general election.

Najib Zakari, the party’s candidate for the Chukum state House of Assembly constituency seat, said the emergence of Mr Hunkuyi as the governorship candidate had brought disunity among the party hierarchy.

“As far as I’m concerned, his candidature will negatively affect our chances at all levels in the state, including the presidential election.

“If there is an opportunity to substitute him, it should be done so quickly,” Mr Zakari said.

Also speaking, Habiba Abdullahi Dogarawa, the NNPP women leader for Sabon Gari Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, said the problem with the governorship candidate was his inability to carry others along.

“This is politics; although I wouldn’t want to blame Hunkuyi entirely, I believe some party officials are working with him to destroy the party.

“I think the major problem is his inability to carry the party officials along. I think substituting him is the best option for peace and progress of the party, it should be done,’’ Ms Dogarawa said.

Magaji Kurmin-Mashi, a chieftain called on the party’s national leadership to intervene and ensure that Mr Hunkuyi was substituted with a more popular candidate for the 2023 poll.

Mr Kurmin-Mashi, also the secretary of the state NNPP stakeholders forum, said the party must act immediately if it wanted to win the state 2023 governorship election.

“I think that Hunkuyi is popular and experienced, but his unforgiving attitude is a major weakness,” he said. “I am afraid when we go out for the election, this attitude will affect NNPP; please convince him to step aside so that the party will prosper.’’

Speaking, the state NNPP chairman, Ben Kure, acknowledged some disagreement among the state party executives, saying that the national leadership had been notified for action.

Mr Kure said the problem must be resolved so the party can approach the 2023 general election as a common front toward dislodging the ruling APC from the state.

“It is a crisis which must be tackled immediately,’’ he said.

But, Buba Galadima, a party chieftain, said that the NNPP has no crisis in Kaduna state.

Mr Galadima told journalists in Kaduna that the party was poised to win the state governorship election in 2023.

He faulted the accusations against the party’s candidate, saying he was elected through free, fair, and credible process.

“To my knowledge, there is no protest in Kaduna, and the party’s activities are on course to winning the 2023 governorship election.

“Anybody that has complain should follow due process, after all, it is party affairs, whether you like  Hunkuyi or not, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recognised him as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2023 poll.

“INEC has also closed the window for candidate’s substitution for 2023 except in case of a court ruling, voluntary resignation, or death,” he said.

(NAN)