Kano High Court Reinstates NNPP Leadership, Invalidates National Committee's Dissolution
A Kano High Court has delivered a significant ruling that nullifies the dissolution of the state leadership of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), firmly establishing Abdullahi Abiya as the legitimate Chairman of the party in Kano State. The court determined that the National Working Committee (NWC) exceeded its constitutional authority by executing a blanket dissolution without involving the National Executive Committee (NEC), thereby violating the party's own governing documents.
Legal Victory for Abiya Against Party's National Body
Abdullahi Abiya initiated legal proceedings against the NNPP's NWC before Justice Nasiru Saminu, contesting the dissolution of the party's leadership in Kano on grounds of procedural unfairness and lack of a proper hearing. Additionally, Abiya filed suit against Hashimu Suleiman Dungurawa for unlawfully presenting himself as a parallel chairman of the NNPP in the state.
In his comprehensive judgment, Justice Saminu not only set aside the dissolution order but also issued a perpetual injunction that prohibits the party and its representatives from interfering with the tenure of the duly elected State, Local Government, and Ward Executive Committees across Kano State. This ruling effectively safeguards the operational autonomy of the NNPP's local structures from national interference.
Court Validates Expulsion of Kwankwaso's Associate from NNPP
The court further upheld the expulsion of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso's anointed candidate, Hashimu Suleiman Dungurawa, from the NNPP. This expulsion was originally declared by Dungurawa's Gargari ward, subsequently ratified by the Dawakin-Tofa council, and finally endorsed by the party's state executive council. Justice Saminu affirmed that the expulsion was entirely valid, lawful, and in full compliance with the NNPP's constitution, reinforcing the party's internal disciplinary mechanisms.
Former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau Resigns from PDP, Aligns with APC
In a parallel political development, former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau has officially resigned his membership from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and has joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Shekarau made this announcement publicly at his residence in Kano, marking another chapter in his extensive political career.
Shekarau's Political Journey and Latest Defection
Ibrahim Shekarau served as the Governor of Kano State from 2003 to 2011 under the now-defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). His political trajectory has been notably fluid: in 2014, he transitioned to the PDP following the merger of his former party, the ANPP, into the APC. In 2018, he resigned from the PDP to join the APC, only to leave the APC for the NNPP in May 2022 after enduring leadership conflicts with another former governor, Abdullahi Ganduje. By August 2022, Shekarau had decamped from the NNPP back to the PDP.
Addressing his loyalists during the announcement, Shekarau explained that his decision to join the APC was the result of extensive consultations and a meticulous evaluation of the available political alternatives. He stated, "We have weighed all the options and arrived at this collective resolution. Do you all agree?" inviting any dissenters to voice their opposition, though none did.
Immediate Effect of Shekarau's Resignation from PDP
In his formal resignation letter dated April 19, 2026, and addressed to the PDP Chairman of Giginyu Ward in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano State, Shekarau declared that his exit from the party would take immediate effect. This move underscores the ongoing realignments within Kano's political landscape, potentially influencing future electoral dynamics and party strategies in the region.
