Rabiu Kwankwaso has been expelled from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) by its National Executive Committee (NEC) due to his alleged failure to attend hearings before the party’s disciplinary committee.

Earlier, Mr. Kwankwaso had faced suspension by the party’s leadership during the national convention held on August 29 in Lagos.

Following this, the NEC established a disciplinary committee and instructed them to extend an invitation to Mr. Kwankwaso to address allegations of serious anti-party activities and mishandling of party and campaign finances within a five-day window.

The NEC had cautioned that if Mr. Kwankwaso failed to appear before the disciplinary committee, he would be expelled from the party, as per the provisions outlined in the party’s 2022 constitution (as amended).

Consequently, NNPP’s acting spokesperson, Abdulsalam Abdulrasaq, issued a statement on Tuesday in Lagos, confirming Mr. Kwankwaso’s immediate expulsion from the party due to his refusal to respond to the committee’s invitations.

Mr Abdulrasaq said, “The NEC met in an emergency session on Friday, September 1 and resolved as follows: Following the refusal of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to appear before the disciplinary committee, which sat on Thursday, August 31 after being duly invited in writing, he is hereby expelled from NNPP with immediate effect.”

He added, “That the erstwhile presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, will be reported to appropriate quarters to answer questions on financial impropriety relating to mismanagement of public funds.”

The crisis within the NNPP started when the NWC of the party loyal to Kwankwaso announced the suspension of the NNPP founder, Dr Boniface Aniebonam and the National Publicity Secretary, Dr Agbo Major, on August 24.