NNPP Seeks Court Order to Declare Seats of 45 Alleged Defectors Vacant, Drags INEC to Court

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and 45 others before the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking judicial intervention over the alleged defection of lawmakers elected on its platform in 2023 to other political parties.

 

The suit, filed through the party’s counsel, Lex Firma LP, seeks the interpretation and enforcement of constitutional provisions governing the defection of elected legislators from the political parties on whose platforms they secured their mandates.

 

According to an affidavit filed in support of the originating summons, the NNPP is challenging the alleged defection of 45 lawmakers comprising members of the Kano State House of Assembly, the House of Representatives and the Senate.

 

The party alleged that the affected lawmakers abandoned its platform for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other political parties while retaining the legislative seats they secured under the NNPP in the 2023 general elections.

 

It further alleged that some of the lawmakers have been listed by INEC as candidates of the APC, New Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 general elections, despite questions surrounding the validity of their resignation from the NNPP.

 

Among those identified are Ismail Falgore Jibril of Rogo Constituency, Bello Muhammad Butu Butu of Rimin Gado/Tofa Constituency, Shehu Garba Fammar of Kibiya Constituency and Muhammad Kadage Murtala of Garko Constituency, whose names reportedly appeared on INEC’s final list of candidates for the 2027 State Houses of Assembly elections under the APC and NDC.

 

In a letter dated October 19, 2026, the party said it had earlier notified INEC of the alleged defections and requested an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the lawmakers’ purported resignations and subsequent membership of other political parties.

 

The NNPP maintained that the affected legislators allegedly remain on its membership register while simultaneously belonging to other political parties, describing the situation as a violation of statutory provisions governing party membership.

 

It also argued that the alleged defections were carried out without the requisite clearance from its Board of Trustees and compliance with the party’s electoral guidelines, citing Articles 8.2(a), 8.2(b) and 8.3(a) of its constitution.

 

To strengthen its position, the party referenced judgments delivered by the Abia State High Court on November 1, 2024, in Suit No. HUZ/11/2024, and the Court of Appeal on March 30, 2026, in Appeal No. CA/OW/271/2025, which it said affirmed the authority of its Board of Trustees and founder in matters relating to the party’s administration.

 

The party further argued that it has neither merged with the APC or any other political party nor ceased to exist as a registered political party, insisting that the circumstances surrounding the alleged defections do not fall within the constitutional exceptions permitting lawmakers to change political parties without losing their seats.

 

Consequently, the NNPP is asking the court to determine the constitutional implications of the alleged defections under Sections 68(1)(g), 68(2), 109(1)(g) and 109(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

 

It is also seeking appropriate constitutional steps concerning the affected legislative seats, including declaring them vacant and conducting bye-elections in the affected constituencies.

 

The party has indicated its readiness to participate in any bye-elections lawfully conducted to fill the seats.

 

The affidavit supporting the originating summons was deposed to by Junia Oludare, a litigation secretary with Lex Firma LP, and sworn to at the Federal High Court Registry, Abuja, on October 27, 2026.

 

Recall that the NNPP had recently warned against attempts to backdate resignation letters for members who allegedly failed to complete the party’s prescribed resignation procedures before it notified INEC of their non-compliance.

 

In a statement associated with the party’s Founder, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, and its Board of Trustees leadership, the NNPP declared that it would not succumb to pressure from elected public office holders seeking backdated resignation documents.

 

The party warned that falsifying resignation records amounted to criminality and urged individuals approaching its leaders for such documentation to desist.

 

The warning followed the party’s October 19 letter to INEC, in which it alleged that Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, 18 members of the House of Representatives, 28 members of the Kano State House of Assembly and two senators, all elected on its platform in 2023, had failed to fulfil the requirements for lawful resignation.

 

The letter, jointly signed by the NNPP National Chairman, Dr. Agbo Major, and National Secretary, Mr. Oginni Olaposi, accused the affected office holders of moving to other political parties and pursuing political ambitions ahead of the 2027 general elections without completing the necessary resignation procedures.

 

The latest legal action is expected to bring into focus the constitutional provisions governing political defection, particularly the circumstances under which elected lawmakers may lose their seats, as well as INEC’s responsibilities in ensuring compliance with electoral laws ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Reacting to the development, the NNPP Founder, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, declared: “Time shall tell!”