The New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, has vowed to present records of members who failed to complete their resignation process in court if the issue comes up in post-election lawsuits following the 2027 general elections.
The party said it would not bow to pressure to backdate resignation letters for elected officials who left its platform without completing the required procedures.
The Founder and Chairman of the NNPP Board of Trustees, Dr Boniface Aniebonam made this statement on Sunday.
He warned that falsifying resignation records was unacceptable and could amount to criminality.
“We respect the right of our members to join other political parties, but they must follow the laid-down procedures and ensure their resignation is properly documented in line with the law,” Aniebonam said.
He added that the party would produce its records if former members challenged the validity of their resignation in court after the elections.
“In the event of a post-election lawsuit by their opponents requiring NNPP to come with records of their resignation, we will do so,” he said.
The NNPP was reacting to reports that some elected officials who had left the party were approaching its leadership to backdate their resignation letters.
The party said it had advised those affected to return to their wards and begin the resignation process afresh, ensuring that all documents were properly completed and recorded.
Aniebonam maintained that the party would not accept incomplete resignation procedures or alter records to accommodate members who had failed to comply with its constitution.
The controversy followed a letter the NNPP sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on October 19, informing the commission that several elected officials who won their seats on its platform in 2023 had not fulfilled the requirements for leaving the party.
Those affected include Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, 18 members of the House of Representatives, 28 members of the Kano State House of Assembly and two senators.
According to the party, the officials had moved to other political parties and were seeking to contest the 2027 elections without completing the required resignation procedures.
NNPP vows to present defectors’ records in post-election court cases