The New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, has distanced itself from its former presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, declaring that he had long been expelled from the party and could not have acted on its behalf in matters relating to an alleged Supreme Court meeting controversy.

The party’s reaction followed Kwankwaso’s recent claim that he facilitated a meeting between Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, and some Supreme Court judges in 2019.

In a statement issued at the weekend by the National Secretary, Comrade Oginni Olaposi Sunday, the NNPP said Kwankwaso was not a member of the party at the time the alleged incident took place and therefore could not be linked to it.

The party urged the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, to remove NNPP’s name from any petition reportedly submitted to the Inspector-General of Police in connection with the matter.

According to the statement, Kwankwaso only joined the NNPP shortly before the 2023 general elections alongside several political figures, including Buba Galadima and others, stressing that he was not among the party’s founders.

The NNPP maintained that the party was founded by Dr Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam, who remains Chairman of its Board of Trustees.

It further accused Kwankwaso of attempting to take control of the party structure after joining, including allegedly altering the party’s logo and colours to align with his Kwankwasiyya political movement without the approval of the founder or the Board of Trustees.

The party also recalled internal leadership disputes involving a Kwankwaso-backed faction which challenged the outcome of a convention that produced Dr Agbo Gilbert Major as National Chairman and Oginni as National Secretary, noting that the case was dismissed by an FCT High Court.

Reaffirming its position, the NNPP said Kwankwaso was expelled shortly after the 2023 elections over alleged gross misconduct and should no longer be addressed as a leader of the party.

It added that relevant authorities, including the EFCC, are looking into related issues, while restating that the party’s recognised leadership remains Aniebonam as Founder and BoT Chairman, Major as National Chairman, and Oginni as National Secretary.