The Kano State chapter of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has dismissed claims by Abdulmumin Jibrin Kofa, the lawmaker representing Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency, that he was not given fair hearing before his expulsion from the party.
Jibrin had earlier alleged that the party was sidelining him, saying he was never invited to defend himself before the decision was made.
He compared the action to a dictatorship, arguing that even under military rule, accused persons are usually tried in a court martial.
The NNPP chairman in Kano, Alhaji Hashimu Suleiman Dungurawa, in reaction to this development, told journalists that there was no reason to give Jibrin a fair hearing since he had already declared openly that he could leave the NNPP and was not backing the party’s presidential flagbearer.
Dungurawa said a politician who has publicly distanced himself from his party and its candidate does not deserve further consideration.
“How can you give fair hearing to someone who said he was ready to join another party and also refused to support the flagbearer that gave him the platform to win his seat? Such a member has already made up his mind. Listening to him again is a waste of time,” he said.
The chairman maintained that Jibrin’s expulsion stands and that the party in Kano will not revisit the matter.
On the ongoing tussle over which NNPP faction is authentic, Dungurawa dismissed the group using the fruits-and-vegetables logo.
He insisted that the faction with the book-and-academic-regalia logo remains the legally recognised NNPP.
He further said the attendance of INEC officials at their recent national meeting in Abuja confirmed the authenticity of their faction.
