By Eteteonline
One of Nigeria’s opposition political parties, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has been experiencing a crisis. Major political groups within the party are experiencing major internal issues just ahead of the 2027 national elections.
The resignation and defection of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf from the NNPP is the most notable development.
Yusuf officially resigned from the party, citing growing internal crises and prolonged leadership disputes as his reason. He informed the NNPP leadership of this in a formal letter of resignation.
Along with him, 21 members of the Kano State House of Assembly, 8 members of the Federal House of Representatives, and 44 local government chairpersons quit the NNPP as a result of his departure.
This reflects a severe decrease of NNPP power in Kano, historically one of its strongest strongholds, and signals a catastrophic lack of internal coherence.
Defections are not the only aspect of the NNPP’s crisis. The party has been facing internal factionalism, notably between distinct power blocs.
Conflicting claims of authority over party structures and legal proceedings have resulted from disagreements over party leadership posts at the state and federal levels.
Internal conflicts in Kano State even escalated to the point that some local party executives tried to dismiss state party leadership, which prompted court interventions.
The NNPP’s organizational strength and public perception are weakened by these conflicts, which also raise questions about a lack of a unified strategy or consensus on leadership direction.
Governor Yusuf’s retirement comes amid hopes that he will formally join the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigeria’s ruling party – a development that could reconfigure power dynamics in Kano and beyond.
Party officials within the NNPP have openly denounced this move as a “betrayal of sacred trust”, but the defections persist.
The NNPP was viewed as a formidable opposition movement — notably in northern Nigeria — after Governor Yusuf secured office under its platform in 2023.
His retirement and the associated defections might substantially weaken the party for the 2027 general elections, perhaps redistributing support to the APC and other parties.
Internal disagreements and leadership tussles have made the NNPP appear disorganised and contentious, which might dissuade supporters, volunteers, and potential candidates from committing fully to the party’s policy.
The problem is part of a bigger trend of defections and political realignments across Nigeria, with various parties fighting to retain unity.
For the NNPP, this raises issues about its long-term survival as a national party and its capacity to maintain relevance against larger parties like the APC and PDP.
Together, these dynamics signal one of the most important internal problems in the NNPP’s history, with genuine ramifications for Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.
The crisis in the New Nigeria Peoples Party revolves around internal factional fights and leadership issues, and waves of defections that impair the party’s organisational capabilities and electoral prospects.
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