BY AHMED AKANBI
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has rejected pressure to backdate the resignation of members who failed to properly exit the party before it notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The party warned that falsifying its membership register to suit defectors is a criminal act, and would not be tolerated.
The position was contained in a statement on Sunday by the founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dr Boniface Aniebonam.
He was reacting to reports that some elected officials who left the NNPP had approached the leadership to backdate their resignation letters.
The NNPP had, in a letter to INEC dated October 19, stated that Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, 18 members of the House of Representatives, 28 members of the Kano State House of Assembly and two senators elected on its platform in 2023 did not fulfil the requirements for resignation.
According to the party, the affected politicians have defected to other parties and are positioning to contest the 2027 general elections without completing the lawful exit process.
Aniebonam said those seeking to regularise their status must return to their respective wards and initiate resignation in line with the party constitution.
He stressed that the NNPP respects the right of members to choose their political affiliation but insists such decisions must be properly documented as required by law.
”We are not scheming for any member to return, but the right process must be followed to the letter. We believe in the rights of people to choose where they wish to belong, but it must be properly documented as required by law,” he said.
The party said it would tender its records if the matter becomes a subject of post-election litigation, warning that failure to prove lawful resignation could have serious consequences.
It explained that resignation letters submitted at ward levels must be formally recorded at the national secretariat, which maintains the official register of members.
The NNPP accused some elected officials of disregarding due process, including announcing their resignation on the floor of legislative chambers without notifying the party.
It added that it would extend its notification to INEC to cover members elected on its platform in Katsina and Jigawa States who also failed to complete their resignation.
The party clarified that those expelled from the NNPP, including Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and Elder Buba Galadima, are not affected by the resignation dispute, noting that court judgments have affirmed its recognition by INEC and its right to use its original logo and field candidates in 2027.