The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has issued a public apology to President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) over recent derogatory comments made by its former presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
In a statement released on Sunday in Lagos, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Oginni Olaposi, categorically distanced the NNPP from Kwankwaso’s remarks, emphasizing that the former Kano State governor had long been expelled from the party.
“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 said.
The party made it clear that Kwankwaso no longer represents the NNPP, citing the formal termination of the Memorandum of Understanding between the party and the Kwankwasiya Movement, which he leads.
“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.”
He further stated that the NNPP, under the leadership of its founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, is committed to constructive engagement and national development, rather than divisive rhetoric.
“Dr. Aniebonam has never been known for making reckless statements against constituted authorities in Nigeria,” he noted.
Olaposi reiterated that the former Kano State governor’s recent comments do not represent the views of the NNPP. “The recent attacks on President Tinubu are solely the opinions of Kwankwaso and his expelled group,” he asserted.
The statement also referenced multiple legal rulings, including a recent decision by the Abuja High Court on April 3, along with judgments from the Abia State High Court and the FCT High Court, all of which affirmed Kwankwaso’s expulsion from the NNPP.
Olaposi concluded by urging the media and the public to cease identifying the former Kano State governor as a representative of the NNPP. “Kwankwaso is the leader of the Kwankwasiya Movement, not the NNPP,” he said.
