NNPP Crisis: Kwankwaso Camp Loses as Court Affirms Agbo Major Leadership
Party writes INEC, demands immediate enforcement of court orders The leadership crisis rocking the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has taken a decisive turn as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja issued fresh orders affirming Dr. Agbo Gilbert Major as the authentic national chairman of the party. The orders, delivered on 25 and 27 November 2025 by Justice Bello Kawu of High Court No. 14, restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or engaging with any faction other than the Agbo Major–led leadership. In the ruling of 25 November, the court granted the NNPP leave to apply for judicial review by mandamus and held that the leave would operate as a stay against any contrary action, recognition, or communication by INEC or the faction led by Dr. Ajuju Ahmed. The judge also ordered an accelerated hearing and abridged timelines, fixing 10 December 2025 for the substantive case. A follow-up ruling on 27 November authorised substituted service on 16 respondents via the NNPP National Secretariat in Abuja. The court further barred INEC from monitoring, attending, or participating in any congress or convention organised by the Ahmed-led group until the matter is resolved. Among the restrained respondents are Dr. Ajuju Ahmed, Hon. Abba Kawu Ali, Prince Nwaeze Onu, Hon. Aladipo Alayokun, Ladipo Johnson, Arc. Mohammed Abacha, and Mustapha Alkassim. Following the court directives, the NNPP’s legal team wrote to the new INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, notifying him of the binding orders. In the letter dated 26 November 2025, the party congratulated the chairman and reminded the Commission of several subsisting court judgments—including those from the Abia State High Court (HUZ/11/2024) and the FCT High Court (FCT/HC/CV/5518/2024)—all affirming the validity of the national convention that produced Dr. Agbo Major. The letter also faulted INEC for previously engaging the Ahmed faction despite these judgments, citing an “unauthorised and illegal” letter dated 31 October 2025 in which Dr. Ahmed and Dipo Olayoku purported to notify INEC of planned congresses and a national convention. The NNPP insisted that the individuals had “no authority, standing, or legal relationship” with the party. The party warned INEC that any further engagement with the factional group would amount to wilful disobedience of court orders and violate Section 287(3) of the 1999 Constitution. It cited the Supreme Court decision in Governor of Lagos State v. Ojukwu to emphasise that no public authority may place itself above judicial orders. Justice Kawu’s rulings categorically bar INEC from recognising, publishing, or uploading any logo, communication, or document originating from the factional respondents pending the conclusion of the judicial review. The court ordered the NNPP to serve all processes on the respondents within five days, while the respondents must file their counter-affidavits within five days thereafter. The NNPP may reply within three days. The matter is scheduled for hearing on 10 December 2025 at High Court No. 14, Apo, Abuja. In a firm position following the rulings, the NNPP demanded that INEC—“as a matter of necessity”—must upload the Dr. Agbo Gilbert Major and Comrade Oginni Olaposi Sunday–led National Working Committee (NWC) on its official website and restore the party’s original logo and colours within 48 hours of receiving the enrolled order. The party stressed that there must be no vacuum in administration as it prepares for the next court date. The latest court orders deepen the long-running leadership tussle within the NNPP—a dispute that has resulted in multiple litigations since 2023 and pitted two major factions against each other, including loyalists of former presidential candidate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
