The founder of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Boniface Aniebonam, has revealed that the party will adopt consensus in selecting its candidates for the 2027 general elections.
Aniebonam, who also chairs the party’s Board of Trustees, said the NNPP had pardoned all expelled members and would re-admit them into its fold.
Aniebonam who disclosed this in a statement issued in Lagos said that primary elections in Nigeria had often denied credible candidates the opportunity to participate in general elections and test their popularity.“We shall avoid this scenario in accordance with our resolutions during our last convention in Lagos to adopt the principles of consensus candidates to bring out our best candidates rather than money politics,” he said.
He urged Nigerians committed to the ideals of a new Nigeria, particularly those unwilling to spend heavily on primaries but capable of mounting effective general election campaigns, to come forward. He added that women aspirants would enjoy free nomination forms, paying only administrative costs as a sign of commitment and loyalty to the party.
Aniebonam said that aside from elected members entitled to automatic tickets, positions including the presidency would remain open for contest, with candidates to be selected through consensus. He reiterated that the party had not shifted from its earlier decision to grant automatic tickets to elected members in executive and legislative positions for the 2027 elections.
Speaking on the pardon, Aniebonam recalled that some members were expelled following internal disputes and litigation within the party.“By virtue of the powers conferred on me by the NNPP constitution as founder and chairman of the Board of Trustees, I hereby declare a general pardon for all members who acted unconstitutionally due to the influence of certain individuals,” he said. He directed affected members to report to the National Working Committee under Dr Agbo Major to pledge allegiance to the party.
Aniebonam added that members who defected to other parties during the disputes could still return, subject to compliance with provisions of the Independent National Electoral Commission guidelines and the Electoral Act. He said the party leadership would screen returning members to ensure stability, noting that the Board of Trustees would continue to oversee the party’s administration in line with a Court of Appeal judgment in Owerri. He also urged prospective members to properly resign from previous parties to avoid dual membership, which is prohibited under the law.