By: Ango Don-Bally, Kaduna
KADUNA State Chairman of New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Ben Kure was on Tuesday removed for dereliction of duty, dishonesty, fraudulent activity and fictionalizing the State party leadership.
Also removed along with the chairman at a meeting of the state working committee of the party, was the State Legal Adviser of the party, Ibrahim Ahmed Esquire. Kure has since been replaced by the former State caretaker chairman of the NNPP, Nuhu Audu.
A statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Col. Albehu Dauda Gora (Rtd) shortly after the meeting said both Kure and Ahmed breached the provisions of Article 31:1 of the NNPP constitution and Section 82 (1) (3) (5)&83(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022 respectively.
Kure was removed following a vote of no confidence passed on him by the State Working Committee of the NNPP at its meeting and deliberations.
The motion for the removal was moved by zone 3 Vice Chairman, Hosea Baba and seconded by the State Organising Secretary, Alhaji Sa’ad Idris Kudan.
Nuhu Audu who was the lnterim Chairman of Sanga Local Government Area of the State has been declared authentic State Chairman of the party.
The statement reads in part, “The Kaduna State Working Committee of the NNPP held a meeting on Tuesday 6th November, 2022 and after deliberation at instance of a motion moved by zone 3 Vice Chairman, Hon. Hosea Baba, and seconded by State Organising Secretary, Alhaji Sa’ad Idris Kudan, have unanimously passed vote of no confidence against NNPP Kaduna State Chairman, Ben Kure and State Legal Adviser, IB Ahmed Esquire respectively.
“The removal of the former state Chairman and State Legal Adviser from office were based on complaints in respect of their failure to discharge their responsibilities, neglect and dereliction of duty, misconduct in office, breach of provisions of the Party Constitution, dishonest and fraudulent activity, fictionalizing the State Executive Committee of the party, negligence in carrying out lawful directives of the party, sabotage, and engaging in anti-party activities and conduct which have detrimental and adverse effect capable of bringing hatred, contempt, disrespect and ridiculing the party.
“It is no longer news that on the 5th of October, 2022 the former State Legal Adviser on the directive and instruction of the former State Chairman, have in a self-help indulged into appointing and inaugurating a State Deputy Chairman for the party without consent nor prior meeting and approval State Executive Committee, and thereby occasioned a breach of the provisions of the NNPP constitution and the Electoral Act, 2022 respectively”.
However, when contacted through a telephone call on the development, Ben Kure simply replied via SMS, saying, “I will call you back”. But he never called back as at the time of filing this report.
It will be recall that stakeholders of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Kaduna State recently threatened to take legal action to compel the party to drop Malam Suleiman Hunkuyi, as its governorship candidate for 2023.
The stakeholders had on Sunday 27th November, staged a protest at the party’s secretariat, urging the NNPP to drop Hunkuyi as its candidate for the 2023 general election.
A spokesperson for the group, Malam Ibrahim Murtala, said that they have started compiling signatures from stakeholders, in preparations for legal action against the party.
“ We insist that Hunkuyi must step aside as an option or we will be forced to obtain a court injunction to stop him from contesting,’’ he said.
Speaking on the issue, Mr Ben Kure, the state NNPP Chairman, said that the party was working toward resolving the issue.
“We are indeed having some concerns over our ability to win the 2023 governorship election, this is largely traceable to the governorship candidate himself, ” he said.
Kure said that some chieftains of the party, were not happy with the emergence of the party’s candidate for the 2023 poll.
“So, whoever feels that this is wrong can challenge it in court, every member of the party has right to challenge any decision,’’ he said.
Kure said that the choice of Hunkuyi was circumstantial as it was done in a haste.
“Let me tell you that the only way to succeed in the governorship election is to get a substitution, we cant afford to face the election the way things are now in the state.
“The NNPP is accepted by majority of the people in the state but the problem of factionalisation is trying to affect our strength.
“ Honestly, Hunkuyi has shown that he is not ready for the governorship contest right from the beginning, although he won the confidence of Kwankwaso and other national leaders.
“ I wonder how a candidate can win election while fighting other candidates and executives of the party,’’ he said.
He said that the party had lost most of its members because of the governorship candidate.
“Let assure you that the electorate will vote massively for our party especially at the presidential election, but we need to tidy up if we are still interested in capturing Kaduna from APC,” he said.
Reacting, Hunkuyi denied having any problem with the stakeholders.“I don’t have problem with anybody, ” he said.
The News lcon
Managing Editor
angobally505@gmail.com
