A recent allegation by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has sparked a heated debate in the Nigerian political sphere. El-Rufai claimed that the Bola Tinubu government is behind the internal crisis within the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
El-Rufai, who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), made the allegation in a video seen by SaharaReporters. He stated, “The crisis that… is facing in the Labour Party is contrived and funded by the government of the day. Everyone knows it.”
However, the NNPP has vehemently denied the allegation, describing it as “the cry of a drowning man.”
In a statement issued by the party’s National Secretary, Oginni Sunday, the NNPP demanded that El-Rufai retract his statement within 48 hours or face legal action for defamation.
Oginni stated, “We demand that El-Rufai retracts his statement within 48 hours, failure to do so will lead to legal action for defamation against the NNPP leadership.” He also questioned the authenticity of El-Rufai’s claims, asking, “Was it the federal government that asked Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to go to Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam in February 2022, to prostrate and beg for NNPP’s platform in the company of Buba Galadima, Senator Hunkuyi, and others to contest as the presidential candidate in 2023?”
The NNPP has maintained that their internal crisis is a result of internal conflicts and not government interference.
The party has demanded that El-Rufai provide evidence to support his claims, and Oginni has threatened to take legal action if El-Rufai fails to retract his statement.
