The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) on Friday said Barrister Ladipo Johnson did not resign from the party, insisting he was only a member of the Kwankwasiya Movement loyal to former presidential candidate Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Johnson, a lawyer who had acted as spokesperson for the Kwankwaso faction of the NNPP, announced his resignation on Thursday in a letter dated May 4 and addressed to the chairman of NNPP Ward G1 (Shitta/Ogunlana Ward) in Surulere Local Government Area of Lagos State.
In the letter, Johnson said his resignation took immediate effect and cited the need for a “broader national realignment of the opposition” ahead of the 2027 general elections.
But a statement, NNPP National Secretary Ogini Olaposi dismissed the resignation, saying Johnson and other members of the Kwankwasiya Movement had long ceased to be members of the party.
“Kwankwaso and Buba Galadima, major actors in the NNPP internal wranglings and planned hijack, have declared membership of other parties, yet few of their followers still clung to the title of NNPP membership,” Olaposi said.
He accused Johnson of continuing to issue statements in the name of the NNPP even after the expulsion of members of the Kwankwasiya Movement for alleged anti-party activities.
“The same man has left to be with his master. He was among those expelled for anti-party activities from the NNPP,” Olaposi added.
According to him, the expulsion of the Kwankwasiya Movement members and their leader had been upheld by both the Court of Appeal in Owerri and the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
Olaposi also criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing the electoral body of failing to recognise what he described as the authentic leadership of the party despite court rulings.
He said a Federal Capital Territory High Court had restrained INEC from conducting business with the Kwankwaso faction, while the Court of Appeal in Owerri had directed the commission to update its records within 72 hours.
“It is most unfortunate and regrettable that INEC is yet to comply, 30 days after,” he said.