The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has officially dissociated itself from its 2023 presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, following his recent verbal attacks on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement issued on Sunday in Lagos, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Oginni Olaposi, apologized to President Tinubu and APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, over what it described as, “unwarranted insults and abusive statements” made by the former Kano State governor.

“We sincerely apologize to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC, led by Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, for the offensive and unacceptable comments made by Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso,” Olaposi said.

According to him, Kwankwaso no longer speaks for the NNPP and has since been expelled from the party, along with his loyalists in the Kwankwasiya Movement.

“Senator Kwankwaso was expelled from the NNPP long ago and does not represent the party’s position. He should stop using the NNPP’s name to make inflammatory statements or attack the Presidency and the APC,” Olaposi added.

The party cited several court judgments that it said validated Kwankwaso’s expulsion. These include the Abuja High Court ruling on April 3, as well as decisions from the Abia State and FCT High Courts, which all upheld the actions taken by the NNPP’s National Working Committee.

Olaposi stressed that many of Kwankwaso’s supporters have already defected to the APC, further distancing the party from his political direction.

“Kwankwaso is now simply the leader of the Kwankwasiya Movement. He has no official ties with the NNPP, and we urge the media and public to stop identifying him as our member,” he said.

Recall that Kwankwaso denied reports that he said President Bola Tinubu asked him to rejoin the All Progressives Congress, APC.

He also denied saying he would prefer to leave politics than return to the APC.