Court restores Abiya as Kano NNPP chairman

A High Court in Kano State has ruled that Abdullahi Abiya remains the lawful chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party in the state, after overturning an earlier decision that removed the party’s leadership structures. The judgment was delivered by Justice Nasiru Saminu following a suit filed by Abiya against the party’s National Working Committee.

The case arose after the NWC dissolved the party’s executives at the state, local government, and ward levels, a move Abiya challenged in court. He argued that the action was carried out without following due process and without giving affected members a chance to defend themselves.

He also asked the court to stop Hashimu Suleiman Dungurawa from presenting himself as the party’s chairman in Kano.

In its decision, the court found that the NWC did not have the authority to dissolve the structures without involving the National Executive Committee. It ruled that the action went beyond the powers granted to the NWC under the party’s constitution and therefore had no legal backing.

The court set aside the dissolution and ordered that the existing executives at all levels should remain in office. It also issued an order stopping the party and its representatives from interfering with their tenure.

In addition, the court upheld the removal of Dungurawa from the party, stating that the process followed by his ward and other party organs was valid and in line with internal rules. He was barred from acting or presenting himself as chairman in Kano.

The ruling also addressed the issue of fair hearing, stating that removing party officials without prior notice or an opportunity to respond violated constitutional rights. All actions taken based on the dissolution were declared invalid.

The court granted all the requests made by Abiya and ordered that Dungurawa and the party’s National Working Committee pay a cost of N500,000.