A High Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has dismissed a lawsuit from a faction supporting Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso that sought to contest the leadership of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), headed by Chief Dr. Boniface Aniebonam and National Chairman Dr. Agbo Major.
The lawsuit, brought forth by Dr. Ahmed Ajuji and 20 others, aimed to nullify the authority of the NNPP’s Board of Trustees (BoT) and its executive leaders, including Barr. Tony Christopher Obioha, National Secretary Comrade Oginni Olaposi, and Deputy National Chairman Chief Felix Chukwurah.
The plaintiffs sought a court order to bar these leaders from convening meetings, arranging congresses, or managing the party’s National Convention, arguing that they had been expelled from NNPP.
However, Justice M.A. Hassan ruled that the court did not have jurisdiction to hear the case, underscoring that internal party matters relating to leadership and membership are beyond the court’s scope.
“The law, as affirmed by both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, is explicit: courts do not intervene in internal political party issues, except regarding the nomination of candidates for elections,” Justice Hassan noted.
This ruling comes on the heels of a similar decision from the Abia State High Court (Suit No.: HUZ/11/2024) on November 1, 2024, which upheld the legitimacy of the NNPP’s Board of Trustees led by Dr. Boniface Aniebonam and validated the party’s congresses and National Convention.
Defendants’ attorney, Segun Fiki Esq., commended the judgment, stating that the case was an attempt to manipulate the leadership of the party through legal channels.
