Ladipo Johnson, the spokesperson for the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has maintained that the party is not in crisis despite the recent departure of a few prominent members, such as Senator Kawu Ismaila.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, Johnson emphasized that defections are inevitable in politics and highlighted that the party is not in disarray, according to Naija News.
Noting that there is no determination to dissolve the party and merge it with the All Progressives Congress (APC), the NNPP head also denied rumors that more defections would occur.
“We’re not in crisis,” he declared. It happens that one senator and two or three members of the House of Representatives have departed, or will leave.
“There has been no decision made by Senator Kwankwaso. The party itself has not made a decision regarding whether to stay in the party, shift to the left, shift to the right, or do anything else. On it, we are still working. Politics is involved.
In response to Kano South Senator Kawu Samaila’s departure, Johnson said the Kwankwasiyya movement contributed to his political rise and expressed hope that he would rejoin the party in 2027.
Johnson maintained that the party still has strong grassroots support in spite of the defections, particularly among young people and former recipients of Kwankwaso’s social intervention initiatives.
He added, “Ka’u Ismaila was in the APC. He got wronged during their primaries. He came over. And I think the Kwankwaso movement really helped him. He became senator. He’s gone back home, but we hope to see him again in 2027.
“Just about two weeks ago, most of the supporters of Ka’u Ismaila met with Senator Kwankwaso in Kano and clearly stated their positions. That was where he [Kwankwaso] made the statement about betrayers — people getting elected and then leaving.Many younger people are joining us, including those who have benefited from scholarships, et cetera, during the Kwankwaso period and more recently under Abba Yusuf. In terms of youth, the NNPP and the Kwankwaso group are expanding.
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