The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to update its records on the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) membership.

In a statement on Saturday by its Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman, Temitope Aluko, it also urged the media to respect the NNPP constitution by recognising only officers duly elected under the party’s constitution.

Mr Aluko said NNPP chieftains like Rabiu Kwankwaso and the entire membership of the old National Working Committee (NWC), led by Abbah Kawu, had since been expelled, and INEC was appropriately and duly informed.

He noted that INEC had no power to meddle in the internal affairs of a political party.

“Once again, may we use this public space to remind the INEC, through its chairman, that we have requested the urgent need to update the records of the National Executive Committee of the NNPP,” Mr Aluko said.

He said the mandate and powers of INEC to register, control and regulate political parties are constitutionally provided, and the party is aware of this.

“However, INEC does not have the power to meddle in the internal administration and management of political parties,” said Mr Aluko.

He said should the electoral umpire meddle in the party’s affairs, it would amount to a breach of the Nigerian constitution on rights of association.

The BOT chairman said party chieftains like Mr Kwankwaso, Buba Galadima and the sacked and defunct National Working Committee, NWC, led by Mr Kawu, had been in gross abuse of the constitutional provisions of the new NNPP with impunity.

According to him, the unceremonious exit of its former national chairman, Rufai Alkali, Angwe Samuel and Suleiman Hunkuyi, among others, pointed out that all was not well with the internal administration of the party.

He decried issues concerning corruption, highhandedness, lack of transparency and accountability on the part of the defunct NNPP National Working Committee (NWC) members.

Mr Aluko said the gross misconduct resulted in the invitation of the chieftains, who refused to respond to queries.

“The surprising and very embarrassing thing today is that INEC is still dealing with the expelled members of the party.

“This is aside from the fact that this matter is pending before a Federal High Court, with INEC duly served and notified,” Mr Aluko said.

Mr Aluko said media practitioners should know there is no faction in the NNPP.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the new principal officers of the NNPP are Dr Gilbert Agbo Major as the National Chairman, Comrade Ogini Samuel as the Secretary-General and Dr TKO Aluko as the Chairman, Board of Trustees.

“Dr Aniebonam Boniface is the founder and spiritual leader of the NNPP, and Governor Abbah Yusuf of Kano State is the leader of the party,” he stated.

He said the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) should be allowed to operate without any strings from the INEC.

(NAN)