The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has explained its decision to cancel the planned protest against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), citing concerns that the exercise could be hijacked by hoodlums and political adversaries to foment unrest.
The party had earlier announced plans to stage a peaceful protest in Abuja on Tuesday, January 20, to press INEC to upload what it described as the authentic executives of the party, led by Dr Agbo Major.
However, in a statement signed by the Founder and Chairman of the NNPP Board of Trustees, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, the party said the decision to suspend the protest was taken in the interest of national peace and stability.
According to Aniebonam, while the party remains resolute in its demand that INEC complies with existing court orders on the leadership of the party, it would not pursue its grievances in a manner that could threaten public order.
“We are law-abiding citizens, and our quest for justice will always respect the peace and unity of Nigeria,” the statement read.
“We are deeply pained by the refusal of INEC to do what is right, but we believe in following the proper and lawful path to achieve justice.”
The NNPP said it had no choice but to call off the protest to safeguard peace, urging its members across the country to remain calm and avoid actions that could escalate tensions.
The party further accused INEC of continued disregard for court orders, noting that both the Abia State High Court and the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, had directed the electoral body to stop recognising the faction led by Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso pending the outcome of an ongoing judicial review.
Clarifying the dispute, the NNPP stated that the matter was not a leadership crisis but stemmed from the termination of a Memorandum of Understanding between the party and the Kwankwasiyya Movement led by Kwankwaso.
It added that it approached the FCT High Court for a judicial review after INEC allegedly delayed updating its records to reflect the judgments already delivered by the courts.
The party expressed optimism that the issues would be resolved soon, reiterating its confidence that justice would ultimately prevail.
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