The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Katsina has fired Rabe Darma, the running partner of the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the state, Nura Khalil.
Sani Liti, the state chairperson; Umar Jibril, the secretary; Mustapha Basheer, the youth leader; Dauda Kurfi, the zonal chairperson; Abdulhadi Mai-Dawa, the Funtua zonal chairperson; Sale Mashi, the Daura zone chairperson; and Audu Yandoma were also ejected.
Nasiru Usman-Kankia, director of media and publicity for the NNPP, informed journalists on Thursday in Katsina that the expelled members were allegedly involved in anti-party activities.
TheCable claimed that Darma supported Dikko Radda, the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate in the state.
Usman-Kankia stated that the expelled members held a “illegal gathering” in order to create an alliance with the APC.
“As you are already aware, on Thursday, March 9, a portion of the state executive leadership of the party conducted an unauthorized meeting, the decision of which nearly shook the party,” he stated.
“19 out of 29 executive committee members were summoned to an emergency meeting to discuss the immediate and distant causes of the illegal meeting.
“It has come to light that the illegal meeting was convened unconstitutionally without the approval of the state executive committee.
“It was also uncovered that invitations for the illegal conference were extended to state and local government exco members and ward chairmen with the goal of discussing and distributing monies for the settlement of polling unit agents and ward coordinators.
“However, the APC gubernatorial candidate was pushed into the illegal gathering, and the NNPP state chairman, Liti, the party’s gubernatorial running mate, Rabe Darma, and other key officials introduced other members there as decampees to the APC.
Almost immediately, the entire arena descended into chaos as NNPP supporters shouted slogans and chanted “no, no, no.”
Usman-Kankia stated that NNPP members have been cautioned against endorsing or forming an alliance with any other party.
“Thus, party officers, members, and candidates at all levels are prohibited from discussing, negotiating, or forming any alliance with any political party in order to win the 2018 gubernatorial and parliamentary elections,” he stated.
“Anybody who endorses a candidate of a different political party would be punished in accordance with the NNPP Constitution, with sanctions ranging from suspension to expulsion.
“Our emergency meeting considered and voted to expel the officials and members participated in the illegal meeting, pending approval by the party’s national executive committee.”
