Alhaji Sani Danmasani, the National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has stated that Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, is neither the leader of the NNPP in Kano State nor at the national level.

Danmasani made the clarification in a statement issued on Monday, stressing that the recent exit of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, from the party does not imply the return of Kwankwaso or members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, whom he said had long been expelled from the NNPP.

According to him, Governor Yusuf was previously among the party’s national leaders, but the recognised leadership of the NNPP remains its Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, alongside the National Working Committee led by Dr Agbo Major.

He expressed concern that several media organisations continue to refer to Kwankwaso as the leader of the NNPP, despite his expulsion from the party.

Danmasani stated that the party possesses documentary evidence confirming the expulsion of Kwankwaso, Dr Ahmed Ajuji and Elder Buba Galadima, adding that both the Abia State High Court and the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, have legally affirmed the expulsion.

He further disclosed that a court in Abuja had issued an enrolment order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting any official dealings with Kwankwaso and the Ajuji-led faction of the party, pending the determination of an ongoing judicial review.

He explained that any appearance of their names on the INEC server was merely an administrative lapse, noting that the details of the Major-led NWC and the party’s National Secretary, Mr Olaposi Oginni, would be uploaded once INEC completes its administrative processes and the judicial review.

Danmasani emphasised that INEC, as a regulatory body, does not determine party membership or leadership.

He appealed to the media to stop describing Kwankwaso as the leader of the NNPP, stressing that court orders must be obeyed unless set aside by a higher court.

He said the clarification was necessary to prevent confusion during ongoing political negotiations and realignments, and encouraged politicians of integrity to join the NNPP without fear, assuring that internal issues would soon be resolved.