A Federal High Court in Abia State, Uzuakoli Division, has issued a compelling order for the immediate takeover of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) administration by the Board of Trustees (BOT) chaired by the founder, Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam.
The court, presided by Justice Collington Okoroafor, gave the mandate yesterday in a motion on notice with suit No: HUZ/11/2024, which was brought before it by three members of the party in Abia State seeking a solution to the party’s ongoing leadership crisis.
The judgement specifically compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all other relevant electoral bodies to henceforth accept candidates from the BOT until proper congresses are convened and relevant organs of the party, including the National Working Committee (NWC), zonal, local council and ward executive committees are constituted.
It further directed the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) and all other states where preparations are underway for council elections to accept only the list of candidates presented by the Aniebonam-led BOT.
Justice Okoroafor further directed the immediate organisation of congresses to fill and activate all relevant organs of the party and submit same to INEC.
Meanwhile, following this development, and in line with the NNPP Constitution (2022) as amended, Aniebonam has called on all NNPP members to maintain order and allow full implementation of the court orders, stating: “Let the avoidable circumstances in our great party become our strength for greatness in the future. There must be an end to litigations, as one large happy family.”
Aniebonam added: “I am glad to note that my two good friends, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Buba Galadima, may have influenced the withdrawal of their case in Kano State high court against me and some members of our great party.
“It is my hope and belief that Kwankwaso and Galadima will not allow some of the unemployed characters around to take undue advantage of them again.
