Four Lawmakers Suspended as Kano NNPP Crisis Escalates

The internal crisis within the Kano chapter of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) intensified on Monday with the suspension of four National Assembly members over alleged anti-party activities.

The suspended lawmakers are Senator Kawu Sumaila (Kano South), Ali Madakin Gini (Dala Federal Constituency), Sani Abdullahi Rogo (Rano/Kibiya Federal Constituency), and Kabiru Alhassan Rurum (Rogo/Karaye Federal Constituency).

Kano NNPP Chairman, Hashimu Suleiman Dungurawa, announced the suspension, accusing the lawmakers of undermining the party despite being elected on its platform.

He stated that the lawmakers were granted complementary tickets during the party’s primaries but have since strayed from its principles.

Dungurawa cited Senator Sumaila’s recent commissioning of projects at his university in Sumaila without inviting party members as an example of anti-party conduct.

He also revealed that a committee would be set up to investigate the matter while emphasizing the party’s openness to dialogue.

However, the suspended lawmakers have rejected the action, dismissing it as baseless and illegal.

Hon. Kabiru Rurum, representing Rano/Kibiya/Bunkure Federal Constituency, openly rejected his suspension, describing it as “baseless and in contempt of court.” He insisted, “I remain a member of the NNPP,” and argued that he and the other suspended lawmakers belong to a different faction of the party.

“This suspension holds no weight because our faction operates independently. They can only suspend members within their camp, not ours,” Rurum stated.

He further accused the Kano NNPP leadership of ignoring legal judgments and lacking legitimacy. Rurum referenced a court case, saying the leadership had taken him to an Abia High Court, which is yet to deliver a ruling.

Rurum also pointed out that the party’s national leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and other executives were invited to Senator Sumaila’s daughter’s wedding but chose not to attend, downplaying claims of disloyalty.

In a related development, Senator Mas’ud El-Jibril, the factional Chairman of the NNPP in Kano, dismissed the suspension of the four lawmakers as “inconsequential.”

He argued that Dungurawa lacked the authority to discipline party members, insisting he remains the legitimate NNPP Chairman in Kano.

“Dungurawa is suspending Senator Sumaila in what capacity? As far as the NNPP is concerned, he is the former chairman and holds no power to suspend any member, especially senior lawmakers,” El-Jibril said.

He further criticized Dungurawa for acting under the influence of Kwankwasiyya, which he described as an association and not a political party.

“These lawmakers may not align with Kwankwasiyya anymore, but that doesn’t strip them of their NNPP membership. Dungurawa, being part of an association, cannot suspend members of the NNPP. This move is laughable,” El-Jibril added.

He urged the public to disregard the suspension news, asserting that the authentic NNPP faction, represented by the fruit logo, remains intact under his leadership in Kano.