NNPP vows to picket INEC as NEC emergency meeting ends in Lagos

The Dr Boniface Aniebonam led New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) on Wednesday, held closed door meeting with strategic stakeholders of the party to examine why INEC refused to comply with Court orders on recognising its National Executive Committee (NEC).

The meeting, which was attended by some members of the NEC and the NNPP Board of Trustees from across the country, was held at the Rockview Hotel in Apapa, in Lagos.

In a communique read by the party’s Head of Strategy and Planning, Dr Clement Iwegbuna, the NNPP resolved to picket INEC headquarters in Abuja soonest.

It said that planned protests by members of the NNPP had been shelved twice to allow peace to reign in pursuit of the enforcement of judgments by various courts, directing INEC to recognise and uphold the Dr Major Agbo led NEC of the NNPP.

“We have had enough of dilly dallying and antics of INEC. Our members shall be at INEC headquarters in Abuja until the commission implements the court orders.”

It pointed out that the internal dispute within the NNPP had long been resolved by various courts in Abia, FCT High Court, Apo Division, as well as a Court of Appeal, Owerri Division judgments, delivered in favor of the Major led NEC.

“The NNPP views INEC’s insistence on disobeying court judgments, including an order of mandamus given by Justice Bello Kawu to compel the commission to recognise the Major led leadership as anarchistic, lawless and an invitation to political instability.

“INEC is supposed to be an unbiased umpire. We are still wondering why it has continued with its disobedience to court orders, even when the people involved in the leadership tussle with NNPP had long joined other political parties.

“INEC is not above the law and is duty bound to obey judgments of the courts. Nigeria is too fragile now for INEC to continue to play with the emotions and sensibilities of Nigerians.

“Our members have long been insisting on a protest but we kept appealing, hoping that the commission will read the handwriting on the wall and do the needful.

“We can no longer afford to allow INEC to continue to disenfranchise our members from participating actively in elections in Nigeria, hence, the decision to take the fresh steps and also bring the matter to public purview and before the international community.”

The members noted that INEC’s refusal to obey a compelling court order, mandating it to within 72 hours, upload the Major led NEC of NNPP on its website and file an affidavit of compliance within 14 days is highly regrettable.

“We also expect the judiciary to defend , protect and guard its jurisdiction jealously and stop INEC from disrespecting it.”

The party, however, resolved to continue with the sale of its nomination forms, pending the resolution of its leadership issue with INEC.

On the 2027 general elections coalitions, the party resolved not to be part of any coalition, citing different ideologies of parties coming together with the sole aim of personal vendetta.

“We do not have a do or die mentality of politicking. We have turned down approaches from various parties and personalities to join their coalition because of what we perceived as wrong approach to power.

“There is nothing wrong for people aspiring to be elected into public offices but when the motive becomes a fixation on a person, then it is a wrong motive.

“NNPP has resolved not to join any coalition of vendetta against anyone. Anybody wishing to take over power from the President must have a visible selfless agenda and the decision should be left to Nigerians.