The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has rejected calls to backdate the resignation of elected officials who allegedly failed to complete the required procedures for leaving the party, warning that falsifying party records could attract legal consequences.
The party said it would not yield to pressure from individuals seeking retrospective recognition of resignations that were not properly documented before its recent communication to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The position was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the party’s founder and Chairman of its Board of Trustees, Dr Boniface Aniebonam.
According to Aniebonam, some elected officials who secured their mandates on the NNPP platform had approached the party’s leadership seeking to have their incomplete resignation processes backdated.
He said the party would not accommodate such requests, insisting that members must comply with the established procedures for terminating their membership.
The NNPP also warned individuals allegedly approaching members of its leadership to influence the handling of resignation records to desist from the practice.
Aniebonam maintained that altering official records to accommodate political interests would undermine the party’s integrity and could amount to criminal conduct.
Dispute Over Elected Officials’ Party Membership
The controversy follows a letter the NNPP reportedly sent to INEC on October 19, 2026, concerning the membership status of several politicians elected on its platform in the 2023 general elections.
The party stated 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 elected on its platform had not fulfilled the constitutional requirements for formally resigning from the party.
According to the NNPP, some of the affected politicians had subsequently become involved with other political parties and were pursuing political ambitions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party argued that the proper documentation of resignation is essential to establishing the political affiliation of elected officials and determining whether they have complied with applicable legal requirements.
Aniebonam said the party had advised individuals who approached its leadership to return to their respective wards and begin or complete the resignation process in accordance with the NNPP constitution.
He stressed that resignation letters must be properly documented and recorded at the party’s national secretariat, with the necessary evidence retained.
The party also indicated that it could update its communication to INEC to include other elected officials from Katsina and Jigawa states who allegedly had not completed the required procedures.
Implications for the 2027 Elections
The dispute could have implications for politicians seeking to contest the 2027 elections under different political platforms, particularly if disagreements over their previous party affiliations lead to legal challenges.
The NNPP maintained that it was not seeking to compel former members to return to the party but insisted that anyone leaving its platform must follow the applicable procedures.
The party also warned that it would rely on its official records if the membership status of affected politicians became the subject of litigation.
The dispute highlights the importance of proper party membership documentation in Nigeria’s political system, especially as political realignments gather momentum ahead of the next general elections.
However, the legal implications for individual politicians will depend on the applicable constitutional and electoral provisions, the circumstances of their resignations and any determinations by the relevant authorities or courts.