BREAKING!!! PANIC IN KANO AS NNPP DRAGS INEC, 44 OTHERS TO COURT OVER ALLEGED DEFECTION OF LAWMAKERS TO OTHER PARTIES
Breaking: Panic in Kano as NNPP Drags INEC, 44 Others to Court Over Alleged Defection Of Lawmakers To Other Parties
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alongside 45 others, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the alleged defection of lawmakers elected on its platform in 2023 to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other political parties
The suit, filed through the party's counsel, Lex Firma LP, seeks judicial interpretation and enforcement of constitutional provisions governing the defection of elected legislators from the political parties on whose platforms they secured their mandates.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the originating summons, the NNPP is challenging the alleged defection of 45 lawmakers comprising members of the Kano State House of Assembly, the House of Representatives and Senators who were reportedly elected on its platform during the 2023 general elections.
The party alleged that the affected lawmakers abandoned the NNPP and joined the other political parties while still occupying the legislative seats they secured under its platform, without following the procedures it considers necessary for terminating their membership.
The NNPP further alleged that some of the lawmakers have already been listed by INEC as APC candidates, NDC and ADC for the 2027 general elections, raising questions about the legality of their nominations and continued occupation of their current legislative seats.
Specifically, the party identified some Kano State lawmakers whose names reportedly appeared on INEC's final list of candidates for the 2027 State Houses of Assembly elections as APC and NDC candidates. They include Ismail Falgore Jibril for Rogo Constituency, Bello Muhammad Butu Butu for Rimin Gado/Tofa Constituency, Shehu Garba Fammar for Kibiya Constituency and Muhammad Kadage Murtala for Garko Constituency etc
The NNPP also referred to other lawmakers allegedly presented or reported as APC and NDC candidates for the forthcoming elections.
In a letter dated October 19, 2026, addressed to INEC, the party said it had drawn the Commission's attention to the alleged defections and called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the lawmakers' purported resignations and subsequent membership of the APC and others
It expressed concern that the affected legislators still have their names on the NNPP membership register while simultaneously being registered as members of the APC and others, a situation it argued violates the statutory provisions regulating political-party membership.
The party also maintained that the alleged defections occurred without the requisite clearance from its Board of Trustees and electoral guidelines, citing Articles 8.2(a), 8.2(b) and 8.3(a) of its constitution.
To support its position, the NNPP relied on judgments delivered by the Abia State High Court on November 1, 2024, in Suit No. HUZ/11/2024, and the Court of Appeal on March 30, 2026, in Appeal No. CA/OW/271/2025, which it said affirmed the authority of its Board of Trustees and founder of NNPP in matters relating to the party's administration.
The party further argued that it had neither merged with the APC and or any other political party nor ceased to exist as a registered political party, insisting that the circumstances surrounding the alleged defections did not fall within the constitutional exceptions that permit legislators to defect without losing their seats.
Consequently, the NNPP is seeking judicial determination of the constitutional implications of the alleged defections, particularly under Sections 68(1)(g), 68(2), 109(1)(g) and 109(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
These provisions address circumstances under which members of the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly may lose their seats following a change of political-party membership, subject to constitutionally recognised exceptions.
The party also wants the relevant legislative authorities to be notified of the alleged defections and appropriate constitutional steps taken concerning the affected seats, including the possibility of declaring the seats vacant and conducting bye-elections.
The NNPP said it was prepared to participate in any bye-elections lawfully conducted in the affected constituencies.
The affidavit in support of the originating summons was deposed to by Junia Oludare, a litigation secretary with Lex Firma LP, and sworn to at the Federal High Court Registry, Abuja, on October 27, 2026.
Recall that The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) had in a recent press statement signed by the Founder of the Party Dr Boniface Aniebonam,and Chairman Board of Trustees that it will reject calls to backdate the resignation of members who failed to complete the process before the party notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of their alleged non-compliance with its constitution.
The party warned that any attempt to falsify resignation records would amount to criminality, urging individuals approaching its leaders to seek backdated documentation to desist from such acts.
The NNPP had said in the press statement that it would not succumb to pressure from elected public office holders who allegedly abandoned the party without completing the constitutionally prescribed procedures for resignation.
The development follows a letter the party sent to INEC on October 19, alleging 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 etc elected on its platform in 2023 had failed to fulfil the requirements for lawful resignation.
According to the party, the affected politicians have since moved to other political parties and are pursuing political ambitions ahead of the 2027 general elections without completing the necessary resignation procedures.
The letter, jointly signed by the NNPP National Chairman, Dr. Agbo Major, and its National Secretary, Mr. Oginni Olaposi, informed INEC of what the party described as the failure of the affected office holders to comply with its constitutional provisions governing resignation.
The current suit is expected to test the constitutional boundaries of political defection by elected lawmakers, the circumstances under which legislative seats may become vacant and INEC's responsibilities in ensuring compliance with electoral laws ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Time shall tell ANIEBONAM said!!!
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