Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has withdrawn his legal challenge against his expulsion from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), signaling the conclusion of a protracted leadership crisis within the party.
The lawsuit, filed at the Kano State High Court under case number K/175/2023, was abruptly withdrawn on October 30, 2024.
Kwankwaso’s counsel applied to discontinue the case, a motion unopposed by the legal representatives of NNPP founder Dr. Boniface Aniebonam and other party leaders.
The decision effectively finalizes his expulsion and consolidates Aniebonam’s leadership.
Kwankwaso’s withdrawal is widely interpreted as an acceptance of political defeat after facing a series of legal and internal party setbacks.
His ousting exposed deep fractures within the NNPP, with key allies, including Elder Buba Galadima and Barrister Ladipo Johnson, criticizing his leadership style and citing strained relationships and financial challenges.
The NNPP has also suffered defections from the Kwankwasiyya Movement in Kano State, with prominent figures such as Kabiru Madaki, Baffa Bichi, and Hon. Abdullahi Rurum exiting the party.
Insiders blame Kwankwaso’s inability to unify factions and address internal conflicts for these losses.
Kwankwaso’s tenure as party leader was marred by allegations of mismanagement, infighting, and alienation of northern stakeholders due to his perceived reliance on southern allies.
High-profile departures, including former NNPP National Chairman Prof. Rufai Alkali and Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, further eroded his influence.
At 68, Kwankwaso’s political future appears uncertain. Observers see his decision to withdraw the lawsuit as a possible retreat from active politics, exacerbated by health concerns and mounting political pressures.
Meanwhile, the NNPP, now under Aniebonam’s leadership, has pledged to rebuild and refocus on its founding principles.
However, the party faces significant challenges in restoring unity and national relevance following the crisis.
Despite the controversies surrounding Kwankwaso’s leadership, his role in the party’s 2022 resurgence is acknowledged.