The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has appealed to Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to intervene in its internal leadership dispute and ensure compliance with a court ruling affirming its recognised executives.
At a news briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, the party’s National Secretary, Dr Sunday Olaposi, from the faction loyal to NNPP founder Dr Boniface Aniebonam, urged the AGF to advise the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, to uphold the ruling of the FCT High Court.
Olaposi said INEC has yet to publish the names of the legitimate national and state party officials on its website, despite the April 3, 2025 judgment delivered by Justice M.A. Hassan, which dismissed a suit filed by a faction aligned with Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, the NNPP’s 2023 presidential candidate.
The dispute began when the Kwankwaso-aligned group, led by Dr Ahmed Ajuji, filed a case on 16 December 2024, challenging the congresses and convention conducted by Aniebonam’s faction. The court ruled in favour of the latter.
Olaposi expressed disappointment that former INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, allegedly failed to implement the judgment by refusing to update the commission’s records.
Following Prof. Amupitan’s confirmation by the Senate, the NNPP sent a letter to the AGF on 16 October seeking intervention to ensure INEC respects the judgment.
“We believe in the integrity of the Attorney-General to ensure that INEC and other agencies comply fully with the rule of law,” Olaposi said.
He added that he remained hopeful that Prof. Amupitan would act in line with his pledge to correct wrongdoing within the commission.
“For our democracy to endure, respect for the rule of law is non-negotiable. This situation cannot persist,” he stated.
