The leadership crisis rocking the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) took a decisive turn this week as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja issued fresh orders affirming Dr. Agbo Gilbert Major as the party’s authentic National Chairman and restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising any parallel faction.
Justice Bello Kawu of High Court No. 14, Apo, granted two separate ex parte orders on 25 and 27 November 2025 after the NNPP approached the court, accusing a rival group led by Dr. Ajuju Ahmed of attempting to mislead INEC despite subsisting judgments validating the Agbo Major leadership.
In the ruling of 25 November, the court granted leave for judicial review by way of mandamus and held that the leave would operate as a stay against any contrary action, recognition or communication by INEC or the respondents regarding the party’s leadership.
Justice Kawu also ordered accelerated hearing and abridged timelines, fixing 10 December 2025 for substantive proceedings.
A follow-up ruling on 27 November authorised substituted service on 16 respondents through the NNPP National Secretariat and further barred INEC—whether through its officers, departments or agents—from monitoring, attending or participating in any congress or convention organised by the factional group until the determination of the suit.
Those listed as respondents include Dr. Ajuju Ahmed, Hon. Abba Kawu Ali, Prince Nwaeze Onu, Hon. Aladipo Alayokun, Ladipo Johnson, Arc. Mohammed Abacha, and Mustapha Alkassim, among others.
Following the latest court directives, the NNPP’s legal team formally notified the new INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, in a letter dated 26 November 2025. The party congratulated the Chairman on his appointment and reminded the Commission of its duty to comply strictly with binding judicial orders on the leadership dispute.
The NNPP recalled that previous judgments—including those of the Abia State High Court (HUZ/11/2024) and the FCT High Court (FCT/HC/CV/5518/2024)—had already validated the national convention that produced Dr. Agbo Major as Chairman and dismissed attempts by the Ahmed-led faction to take control of the party.
Despite these rulings, the NNPP alleged that INEC had continued to interact with the factional group, even after an “unauthorized and illegal” letter dated 31 October 2025 was sent to the Commission by Dr. Ajuju Ahmed and Dipo Olayoku, purporting to notify INEC of planned congresses and a convention. The party insisted that the individuals “have no authority, standing or legal relationship” with the NNPP.
The letter further warned that any engagement by INEC with the factional group would amount to wilful disobedience of court orders and a violation of Section 287(3) of the 1999 Constitution, citing the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Governor of Lagos State v. Ojukwu.
Justice Kawu’s orders explicitly bar INEC from uploading, publishing or recognising any logo, communication or document from the factional respondents pending the hearing of the judicial review.
The NNPP has been directed to serve all processes on the respondents within five days, while the respondents have five days to file counter-affidavits. The party may file its reply within three days thereafter.
The matter has been adjourned to 10 December 2025 at High Court No. 14, Apo, Abuja.
As part of its compliance demand, the NNPP stressed that INEC must, within 48 hours of receiving the enrolment order, upload the Agbo Major–led National Working Committee—headed by Dr. Agbo Major Gilbert and National Secretary Comrade Oginni Olaposi Sunday—on its official website and immediately restore the party’s original logo and colours.
The party maintained that there must be no vacuum in administration, insisting that its structures remain functional and fully recognised ahead of the next hearing date.
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