The National Working Committee of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) on Thursday held an emergency meeting in Lagos.

The closed-door meeting had the party’s national executives nationwide in attendance.

The closed-door meeting, which was not open to journalists, had the party’s chairman, board of trustees, Boniface Aniebonam; the national chairman, Agbo Major; and the secretary general, Oginni Olaposi, in attendance.

The meeting which began at about 10:00 a.m. ended at about 3:00 p.m.

Speaking with journalists at his office at NAGAFF Headquarters in Apapa after the meeting, Mr Aniebonam, who is also the NNPP Founder, said the executives met to discuss urgent issues affecting the party nationwide.

He said that at the top of the agenda was INEC’s delay in uploading the new national executives of the party to enable it to participate actively in elections nationwide.

He stated, “We have written many times to the commission and even demanded that elections be stopped until the NNPP issue is concluded to avoid litigation that may affect elections in Nigeria. INEC’s delay is a constitutional abuse of our rights as Nigerians to participate in elections. We regret to note that despite the advice and directives of the Abia and federal capital territory high courts, INEC is still adamant. We insist that INEC must refrain from all activities nationwide, including stopping of all elections, until it reflects the true and correct logo of the NNPP and participation of the party under the new leadership.’’

Mr Aniebonam said that, in addition, other issues, including the usurping of the NNPP name by expelled members of the party, were also discussed.

He said, “We also talked about approaches by some presidential aspirants wishing to use the platform of NNPP for the 2027 election.’’

On whether the party will be presenting its own candidate or join alliance with other political parties, Mr Aniebonam said the NNPP would present its own candidate, adding that it was not opposed to collaboration with like-minded parties willing to support it.

“We maintain that our ticket will not be given out to a lone aspirant like we did in 2023. The NNPP will be open to as many aspirants as may be willing to contest on its platform. All aspirants will undergo the mandatory primaries of the party and will be chosen by members. There will be no selective choice from the leadership. All aspirants in all other elections will go through our primaries,” he added.

He said that the party also discussed a nationwide membership drive which would begin soon.