Kano Political Heavyweight Kwankwaso Under Fire Over Visit to Labour Party’s Otti, Details Emerge

• Influential northern politician, Rabiu Kwankwaso, visited Governor Alex Otti in Umuahia, Abia state, on Saturday, November 9
• Kwankwaso disclosed that the visit was part of his engagements in Abia state, southeast geopolitical zone
• Following the visit, talks of a possible alliance emerged, as well as criticisms of Kwankwaso, a presidential hopeful

Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over nine years of experience covering politics, elections, and governance.

Umuahia, Abia state - Governor Alex Otti of Abia state on Saturday, November 9, played host to the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 election, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

Emmanuel Emeruwa, the speaker of the Abia state House of Assembly, some aides of Governor Otti, and members of the Kwankwasiyya movement were present.

Although Kwankwaso said he was in the state to condole with Otti on the death of Ogbonnaya Onu, the first governor of old Abia state, rumours of a possible political alliance between the ex-Kano governor and Otti, the only Labour Party (LP) governor in the country, spread.

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Amid the speculation, the national working committee (NWC) of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) on Sunday, November 10, condemned Kwankwaso's visit, The Punch reported.

At an emergency meeting held at Rockview Hotel, Apapa, Lagos, the NWC described Kwankwaso’s November 9 visit as a “deceptive ploy” linked to a recent Abia state high court ruling affecting the party’s internal structure.

In a statement issued by Abdulrasalam Abdulrazaq, the NNPP's national publicity secretary, the party alleged that Kwankwaso’s agenda had been to “hijack” the party for his personal gain, 'to betray the trust of its founders'.

Kwankwaso's visit to Otti: Aderibigbe wades in

Meanwhile, Adekunle Razaq Aderibigbe, who contested for a seat in the Lagos state house of assembly in 2023 under the platform of the NNPP, said Kwankwaso is "a patriotic Nigerian" who has always maintained cordial relationships with various stakeholders across political divides.

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Aderibigbe told Legit.ng:

"It is worth noting that the NNPP comprised various groups from various parts of the country. This explains the deepened internal crisis involving court cases and leadership tussles.

"As established, Senator Kwankwaso has visited Governor Alex Otti to commiserate with him following the burial of the first civilian governor of Abia state, the late Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu. As a patriotic Nigerian, Kwakwaso has always maintained cordial relationships with various stakeholders across regions and political parties. Abia Governor is not the first acquaintance.

"Meanwhile, the National Working Committee report is not out of place considering the internal issues and the recent ruling in Abia state. The legal tussle still continues with the hope of having headway and reviving the common goals and interests of the party towards 2027."

NNPP says Kwankwaso remains expelled

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the NNPP urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to update its records on the party’s national executive committee (NEC) membership.

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The party in a statement by its board of trustees (BoT) chairman, Temitope Aluko, urged the media to respect the NNPP's constitution by recognising only officers duly elected by the party’s constitution.

Aluko stated that NNPP chieftains like Kwankwaso and the entire membership of the old NWC led by Alhaji Abbah Kawu had since been expelled.

Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng