The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) says it will proceed with its congresses leading up to a national convention, regardless of whether the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) complies with court orders directing it to recognise the Dr Agbo Major-led leadership of the party. 

The party made this known in a statement by its founder, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, in Lagos on Saturday.

“Our programme of action to conduct congresses, primaries and conventions has been submitted to INEC, and we are going on to participate in all elective positions, including the presidential in 2027,” Mr Aniebonam said.

He said that INEC had continued to delay uploading the NNPP national working committee, led by Dr Agbo Major, as ordered by the courts.

“The delays by INEC in obeying the court orders, as well as the leadership tussle in court over the years, denied the NNPP and its members many opportunities to participate in various elections nationwide.

“In view of the above, we decided to go ahead and hold our congresses and convention while waiting for INEC to comply with court orders.

“We can no longer afford to deny our members the opportunities to participate in elections in Nigeria.

“The 2027 general election is a major one, and time is fast going to prepare for the election and allow members to indicate positions they wish to contest for,” he said.

According to him, the NNPP will not give up the battle to get INEC to update its records and recognise the leadership of the Major-led national working committee.

He said, “We had expected that INEC would obey the court order. Unfortunately, INEC did not obey, and we decided to approach and engage the commission to know why it’s disobedience to the court orders when there is no stay of execution, setting aside or an order of a court stopping it from being obedient to court orders.

“Court orders supersede INEC’s decisions and actions, including the internal disciplinary measures of a registered political party. The experiences regarding Rotimi Amechi and the Zamfara declaration are one example.

“It’s also important that INEC should not forget in a hurry, about the late Arthur Nzeribe’s experience stopping elections when his party was disenfranchised from participation.”

 (NAN)