Former NNPP National Chairman, Alkali, Other Party Members Join APC

•      Ganduje: Kwankwasiya group infiltrated, polluted, scattered NNPP

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The former National Chairman of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Prof. Rufai Alkali, the former National Organising Secretary, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, former National Legal Adviser, Prof. Bem Angwe and other members of the party have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Alkali, who led other prominent party members to the national secretariat of APC in Abuja, yesterday, said they resigned from the NNPP due to  personal reasons, adding that they hinged their participation and involvement in any political party in the future based on trust, mutual respect, accommodation and inclusivity.

Other members of the party that resigned from the NNPP included: Abigail Albashi, Adamu Sargajiga, Isaac Idu, Bukar Musa Mailafiya, Terkura Upav and Timothy Nantok, Nuhu Ajiana Audu, Dr. Isa Abdullahi Shika, Mikaih Takwat, Senator Sulaiman Hunkuyi, and Prof. Bem Angwe.

Others were: Major Yahaya Shinko (Rtd), Alhaji Usman Danbaba, Ihyom Asongu, John Tine, Dekaan Akarde, Mrs. Mercy Achagh, Chief Bob Echikwonye, Adamu Mohammed, Sarkin Malamai and Johnson Abbah.

They all resigned from the NNPP to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Alkali, stressed that they took time to review the state of the political parties in the country, especially after the 2023 general election, and concluded that following their departure from the NNPP and PDP, their next destination should be APC.

He said: “As usual, we know the temptation for some people is to say that we are joining the APC now because it is the ruling party at the Federal level in the country. We do understand because this is a common perception but as far as we are concerned this is far from the truth.

“Today, we have all decided to move forward with the APC. In our view, with the new mood in the country, both His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the new leadership of the party under your able and distinguished Chairmanship, both of you veteran politicians, APC has shifted the gear and you have also opened a new page in the history of party politics in the country that is more welcoming and more accommodating.”

Alkali, stressed that they were representatives of the multitude of hundreds of thousands of their supporters, friends, associates and well wishers within the NNPP and PDP nationwide who were earnestly waiting for this historic day.

He expressed optimism that the  federal government under the APC would deepen its commitment to the principles of justice, equity, good governance, accountability, transparency and inclusiveness in the management of human and other natural resources.

Responding, the National Chairman of APC, Dr. Abdulahi Ganduje, said while the decampees were important personalities, most of them were coming from an unknown party.

He stressed that the original party NNPP was highly respectable party, even though it was a small party led by a good politician.

Ganduje, however, noted the party was later hijacked, bought, infiltrated, polluted and scattered by an association called Kwankwasiya.

According to him, “we knew it was going for a doom and now seen the doom. I congratulate you for leaving the party and joining APC which is 10 years old. We will soon celebrate it as an institution.”