NNPP Apologises to President Tinubu, APC Over Kwankwaso’s Attacks, Reiterates His Expulsion

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In a significant political turn, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has issued a formal apology to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) over recent verbal attacks by its former presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. The party clarified that Kwankwaso no longer represents its values or interests, emphasizing that he had been expelled from the NNPP along with his faction, the Kwankwasiya Movement.

The apology, which was made public in a statement released on Sunday in Lagos by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Oginni Olaposi, represents a decisive attempt by the NNPP to distance itself from Kwankwaso’s controversial remarks and to mend political fences with the ruling APC.

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“We hereby tender an unreserved apology to President Tinubu and the entire APC family, led by Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, for the unwarranted insults, abuse, and maligning statements issued by Kwankwaso,” Olaposi stated.

He stressed that Kwankwaso’s recent public outbursts were not made on behalf of the NNPP, nor do they align with the party’s current political ideology and leadership direction. According to Olaposi, the party had severed all official ties with Kwankwaso and the Kwankwasiya group after the termination of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that previously united the two entities.

“Kwankwaso should stop parading himself as a member of our party and using the NNPP’s name to launch attacks against the APC and the Presidency,” Olaposi warned. “He was expelled long ago and should look inwards rather than blame others if his followers are now joining the APC.”

NNPP Under New Direction

The NNPP spokesman went on to clarify that under the leadership of its founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, the party is now pursuing a more constructive and responsible approach to national development.

“Dr. Aniebonam has never been known for making reckless statements against constituted authorities in Nigeria,” Olaposi said, drawing a clear contrast between the party’s current leadership and the actions of Kwankwaso.

He reiterated that the recent attacks on President Tinubu—including critical statements that questioned the legitimacy and leadership of the APC administration—were personal views of Kwankwaso and do not reflect the official stance of the NNPP.

Legal Backing for Expulsion

Backing its position with legal evidence, Olaposi pointed to several court judgments that upheld the expulsion of Kwankwaso from the party. Among the cited rulings were decisions from the Abuja High Court (April 3, 2025), the Abia State High Court, and the FCT High Court, all of which affirmed the legality of Kwankwaso’s expulsion and recognized the current leadership structure of the NNPP.

“These rulings make it clear that Kwankwaso is no longer a member of our party,” Olaposi stated. “The NNPP has moved on.”

In a final note, the party urged media organizations, political analysts, and the public to cease referring to Kwankwaso as a representative or leader of the NNPP. Instead, the party insisted that he should be recognized solely as the head of the Kwankwasiya Movement, an independent political faction with no formal ties to the NNPP.

“Kwankwaso is the leader of the Kwankwasiya Movement, not the NNPP,” Olaposi concluded.

The public apology from the NNPP marks a clear break from Kwankwaso, who was the face of the party during the 2023 presidential elections. His influence brought visibility to the party, especially in Northern Nigeria, but his recent criticisms of the Tinubu administration appear to have created deep rifts within the NNPP’s national leadership.

Political analysts believe this move may signal an attempt by the NNPP to reposition itself as a centrist party, open to dialogue and national development partnerships, particularly in light of recent defections from the party and growing internal dissent.

While Kwankwaso has yet to formally respond to the party’s latest statements, sources within the Kwankwasiya Movement suggest that he remains unfazed, focusing on building a new political coalition potentially in anticipation of the 2027 general elections.

For now, however, the NNPP’s leadership appears determined to rebuild its image, foster institutional relationships, and shed the combative political tone that had defined much of its recent history under Kwankwaso’s influence.