Aniebonam made the clarification on Saturday, January 24, while responding to reports suggesting that Yusuf had dumped the NNPP. He explained that the governor’s resignation letter was not directed to the legally recognised NNPP leadership or its structures at the national, state, or ward levels. Instead, the letter was reportedly addressed to a ward official of the Kwankwasiya Movement in Diso-Chiranchi, Gwale Local Government Area.
According to Aniebonam, the NNPP does not recognise the Kwankwasiya Movement or its ward officials as part of the party’s leadership structure. He stressed that any resignation from the NNPP must be formally communicated to the party’s recognised National Working Committee or relevant party executives.
Reports had earlier claimed that Governor Yusuf resigned alongside 21 state legislators, eight members of the House of Representatives, and 44 local government chairmen in Kano State. The development was announced on Friday, January 23, through a statement attributed to the governor’s media office.
Although Yusuf’s letter reportedly stated that his resignation took effect from January 23, 2026, Aniebonam insisted that neither he nor the party’s Board of Trustees received any official notification of such a decision.
He further noted that the NNPP had previously lifted Yusuf’s suspension and formally acknowledged him as the party’s leader in Kano State, given his status as the highest-ranking elected official on the party’s platform.
Aniebonam also referenced court judgments from both the Abia State High Court and the Federal Capital Territory High Court, which he said affirmed the legitimacy of the NNPP leadership under his watch and instructed the electoral body to disengage from the Kwankwasiya Movement, which he described as a defunct pressure group.
He emphasized that the NNPP is a registered political party, while Kwankwasiya was merely a political movement whose association with the party ended after the 2023 general elections. According to him, all elected officials in Kano were voted into office under the NNPP banner, symbolised by the party’s basket of fruits logo, not the Kwankwasiya insignia.
Blaming the political tension in Kano on what he described as the domineering influence of Senator Kwankwaso, Aniebonam described the situation as unfortunate. He, however, urged NNPP members across the country to remain calm, united, and focused as the party prepares for the 2027 general elections.
According to Aniebonam, the NNPP does not recognise the Kwankwasiya Movement or its ward officials as part of the party’s leadership structure. He stressed that any resignation from the NNPP must be formally communicated to the party’s recognised National Working Committee or relevant party executives.
Reports had earlier claimed that Governor Yusuf resigned alongside 21 state legislators, eight members of the House of Representatives, and 44 local government chairmen in Kano State. The development was announced on Friday, January 23, through a statement attributed to the governor’s media office.
Although Yusuf’s letter reportedly stated that his resignation took effect from January 23, 2026, Aniebonam insisted that neither he nor the party’s Board of Trustees received any official notification of such a decision.
He further noted that the NNPP had previously lifted Yusuf’s suspension and formally acknowledged him as the party’s leader in Kano State, given his status as the highest-ranking elected official on the party’s platform.
Aniebonam also referenced court judgments from both the Abia State High Court and the Federal Capital Territory High Court, which he said affirmed the legitimacy of the NNPP leadership under his watch and instructed the electoral body to disengage from the Kwankwasiya Movement, which he described as a defunct pressure group.
He emphasized that the NNPP is a registered political party, while Kwankwasiya was merely a political movement whose association with the party ended after the 2023 general elections. According to him, all elected officials in Kano were voted into office under the NNPP banner, symbolised by the party’s basket of fruits logo, not the Kwankwasiya insignia.
Blaming the political tension in Kano on what he described as the domineering influence of Senator Kwankwaso, Aniebonam described the situation as unfortunate. He, however, urged NNPP members across the country to remain calm, united, and focused as the party prepares for the 2027 general elections.
