The leadership of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has dismissed former Governor of Kaduna State Nasir El-Rufai’s allegations that the federal government is behind the party’s internal problems.
The party confirmed that the government was not involved in the expulsion of its 2023 presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and the suspension of Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf.
NNPP National Secretary Oginni Sunday, in a statement in Abeokuta, said El-Rufai’s allegations were false, referring to them as “the cry of a drowning man.”
The statement is a response to El-Rufai, a recent defector from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), saying that the ruling APC was behind the troubles within opposition parties such as the NNPP.
Oginni debunked El-Rufai’s claims, querying whether the federal government was responsible for Kwankwaso’s initial appeal to join the NNPP, his alleged mismanagement of party funds, or his failure to appear before the party’s disciplinary committee.
He also alleged that Kwankwaso hijacked the party’s convention, illegally changed its symbol, and diverted campaign funds.
The NNPP has issued El-Rufai a 48-hour ultimatum to publicly apologize for his utterances or face charges of defamation.
 has dismissed former Governor of Kaduna State Nasir El-Rufai's allegations that the federal government is behind the party's internal problems.){kind=link}