The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, demanding that he withdraw his remarks concerning the party’s ongoing crisis.
El-Rufai had alleged during a visit to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) headquarters that the federal government was behind the internal issues within the NNPP. In response, the party dismissed his claims, stating that he lacked an understanding of its internal affairs.
In a statement released on Wednesday, NNPP’s factional National Chairman, Oginni Olaposi, described El-Rufai’s comments as misleading and called for an immediate retraction and apology. He warned that failure to do so could lead to legal action for defamation.
Olaposi also urged El-Rufai to seek clarification from his ally, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, on the root causes of the party’s internal conflicts.
He posed several questions, asking whether the federal government played any role in Kwankwaso’s past dealings with the NNPP, including his 2022 request to use the party’s platform and his alleged disputes with its founder, Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam.
Additionally, he questioned whether the federal government influenced Kwankwaso’s legal battles over his expulsion from the party or his refusal—along with Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf—to appear before the party’s disciplinary committee.
The NNPP maintains that El-Rufai’s statements are unfounded and is insisting that he correct the record within the given timeframe.