A high court in Kano state has set aside the suspension
of Rabiu Kwankwaso, presidential
candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
Ruling on an ex parte motion in a suit marked K/M1157/2023
on Tuesday, Usman Na‘abba, the presiding judge, also restrained members of the
faction that suspended Kwankwaso from acting as national officers of the party.
Last Tuesday, the NNPP’s board of trustees (BoT), led by
Boniface Aniebonam, founder of the party, suspended Kwankwaso over allegations
of anti-party activities.
However, a faction of the party loyal to the former governor
of Kano reversed the suspension.
The party’s national executive council (NEC) had also set up
a disciplinary committee to probe allegations of anti-party activities and
mismanagement of party funds levelled against Kwankwaso.
The former Kano governor was directed to appear before the
committee within five days of getting the invitation.
The NEC had warned that Kwankwaso would be expelled in line
with the provisions of the NNPP’s constitution if he failed to appear before
the disciplinary committee.
In a statement on Tuesday, Abdulsalam Abdulrasaq, NNPP’s
acting national publicity secretary, said NEC resolved to expel him because of
his refusal to honour the committee’s invitation.
But in the recent ruling, the court ordered the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise the purported suspension
pending the determination of the suit.
“An order of interim injunction is hereby granted
restraining the respondents by themselves, their agents, cronies and whosoever
acting or act through them from parading themselves, issuing press releases or
granting Interviews as national officers, leaders or members of the applicant
pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice,” the judge
ruled.
“An order of interim injunction is hereby granted setting
aside the purported suspension of Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as a member of the
applicant and restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission from
recognising the purported suspension pending the hearing and determination of
the motion on notice.”
The respondents in the suit are Boniface Aniebonam, Gilbert
Agbo Major, Tony Christopher Obioha, Oginni Olaposi, Rekia Zanlaga, Mark Usman,
Umar Jubril, Adebanju Wasiu, Tajudeen Adebayo, Mamoh Garuba and Abdurasaq
Abdulsalam.
Others are Abiola Henry Olarotimi, Babayo Abdullahi
Mohammed, Ibrahim Yahaya, Chinonso Adiofu, Sunday Chukwuemeka, Jonathan Chineme
Ibeogu and the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The judge adjourned the suit to October 5.
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