The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the 2023 general election, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, recently met in Lagos to strategize ahead of the 2027 elections.
Meanwhile, NNPP’s factional National Chairman, Agbo Major, has reiterated that Kwankwaso’s faction remains expelled from the party. However, details of the meeting between Kwankwaso and Aregbesola, held at the former minister’s Lagos residence, remain undisclosed.
The meeting follows the recent exit of Aregbesola’s political group, Omoluabi Progressives, from the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing exclusion, unfair suspensions, and disregard for its structure. Shortly after, the Osun APC expelled Aregbesola, alleging anti-party activities.
As discussions on forming a coalition against the APC in 2027 intensify, key opposition figures have been holding strategic meetings. In November 2024, Atiku Abubakar hosted Peter Obi in Adamawa for a breakfast meeting. Similarly, in January 2025, Nasir el-Rufai, Hamza Al-Mustapha, and other political figures convened in Abuja under the Social Democratic Party (SDP), led by Shehu Gabam.
While Ajuji Ahmed, Chairman of Kwankwaso’s NNPP faction, has stated that the party is not currently in coalition talks, he has not dismissed the possibility.
Amid these political realignments, Agbo Major, the newly elected factional National Chairman of the NNPP, has insisted that Kwankwaso’s expulsion remains valid. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Major declared that the February 4, 2025, National Convention ratified the expulsion of Kwankwaso, Buba Galadima, and the entire Kwankwassiya movement.
He referenced a November 1, 2024, Abia High Court ruling that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize the party’s Board of Trustees (BOT), led by Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam, as the legitimate leadership until court matters are resolved.
“In full compliance with the court’s judgment, all necessary communications were made with INEC, and on January 13, 2024, congresses began from ward to zonal levels, culminating in the National Convention on February 4, 2025, where Kwankwaso’s expulsion was affirmed,” Major stated.
The convention, held at Rockview Hotel, Apapa, Lagos, resulted in key decisions, including:
Affirming Kwankwaso’s expulsion along with his faction members.
Electing Agbo Major as the new National Chairman.
Reverting to the party’s previous logo featuring a basket of fruits on Nigeria’s map.
Reviewing the party’s financial and internal governance structure.
Major urged Kwankwassiya loyalists to peacefully leave the NNPP, emphasizing that their leaders had already moved on.
“We call on the remaining members of the Kwankwassiya group to find another platform, as their leaders have already done. The NNPP must move forward in accordance with the rule of law,” he said.
With the 2027 elections approaching, the internal leadership struggle within the NNPP remains a major political battleground, while opposition realignments continue to unfold.
