The Forum of State Chairmen of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has sounded the alarm over what it claims are covert attempts by the purportedly unauthorized National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to make revisions to the party’s constitution for the third time within a span of six months.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Dada Olayinka Olabode, the spokesperson for the Forum of State Chairmen of the NNPP, expressed concerns about the latest maneuvers aimed at altering specific provisions in the party’s constitution. These changes, according to the forum, seek to diminish the authority of the Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, a move ostensibly triggered by the BoT Chairman’s resolute commitment to preventing injustice from taking root within the party.
The forum further asserted that the NWC’s ability to effectively lead the party has been compromised, alleging that the committee has veered away from the party’s original principles and vision that underpinned its foundation.
The statement also revealed that the forum has accused Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso, the party’s presidential candidate in the recently concluded February 25 presidential election, of being involved in the alleged plot against the party and its unwavering leaders.
The forum stated, “Our attention has been drawn to the desperate moves being made by the illegal National Working Committee of our party, to amend, for the 3rd time in 6 months, the constitution of our party.”
The forum went on to assert that these moves are driven by a sense of impunity and disregard for the party’s constitution. They claimed that the NWC is resorting to such actions in a bid to wrest control of the party, even if it means acting outside the boundaries of legality.
The proposed amendments appear to focus on eliminating clauses within the constitution that empower the BoT Chairman to take corrective actions against any member or party organ that deviates from the established norms and principles of the NNPP constitution.
In light of these developments, the Forum of State Chairmen unequivocally called upon Chief Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam, the Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, to promptly revoke the Memorandum of Understanding that he entered into with individuals who are accused of undermining democratic principles.
Furthermore, the forum expressed its full support for an emergency meeting scheduled to take place on August 29, 2023, at the Rockview Hotel in Lagos. The meeting, convened by the Founder, is seen as a significant step toward addressing the pressing concerns and challenges currently facing the NNPP.
The statement concluded by emphasizing the forum’s unwavering commitment to preserving the integrity of the party and ensuring that its democratic values remain intact in the face of alleged attempts to manipulate its constitution and leadership.
