No mass defection in our party – Bauchi NNPP

The Bauchi State chapter of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has reacted to a statement credited to the governorship candidate of the party in the 2023 elections, Senator Halliru Dauda Jika, that all NNPP executive members in the state are dumping the party to join the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Jika reportedly made the statement in the wake of his defection to APC last week.

The reason for his defection was yet to be ascertained at the time of writing this report.

But addressing journalists in Bauchi on Sunday, the Bauchi NNPP Publicity Secretary, Ahmed Aminu, said the claim by Jika that the chairman of the party, Shehu Sani, and other chieftains of the party have joined APC is not true.

Bauchi NNPP, he said, is still intact, adding that the insinuation is nothing but a deliberate attempt to suppress the truth from the public.

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In his words: “The NNPP, Bauchi State chapter, wishes to draw the attention of the general public to the recent proclamations made by our gubernatorial candidate on 26th September 2023, at the National Headquarters, Abuja.

“This announcement was not true and it does not reflect the true position on ground. It may be a slip of the tongue and in that respect, we wish to unequivocally state our position that the party structure at all levels remains intact, with our serving member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, even though a few members have decided to join the gubernatorial candidate,” he emphasised.

Aminu said further: “We, however, wish to affirm our membership, support, and loyalty to our great party, NNPP, including its leadership as well as the leader of the party, His Excellency, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.”

He also added: “We also promise to work tirelessly to ensure the success of our great party. We regret the resignation of some of our members who made their contributions to the achievements of our party and we wish them the very best.

Aminu stressed that the party is bigger than individuals, saying: “The announcement made by some members cannot be taken as a unanimous decision as the great majority have decided to remain in the party.”