By Seyi Odewale
Abdullahi Abiya has emerged as the Acting State Chairman of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Kano State, marking a decisive turn in the party’s leadership crisis triggered by the sack of former chairman, Alhaji Hashimu Dungurawa, and his continued rejection of that action.
Abiya’s emergence was endorsed by the NNPP State Executive Committee (SEC) following an emergency meeting at the party’s state secretariat in Kano.
Announcing the decision, the Assistant Legal Adviser of the party, Yusuf Mukhtar, said the appointment was made in line with provisions of the NNPP constitution to ensure continuity and stability of leadership.
Party sources said the decision followed the formal submission of a report by the Dawakin Tofa Local Government Executive Committee detailing the circumstances surrounding Dungurawa’s sack and expulsion by executives of his Gargari Ward.
The Dawakin Tofa EXCO, led by Hon. Abdullahi Ali Uban Iya Dawanau, transmitted the ward resolution to the state leadership for consideration.
After reviewing the report, the State Executive Committee ratified the ward and local government actions. Consequently, it approved Abiya’s emergence as Acting Chairman, pending further guidance from the party’s national leadership.
Speaking after his endorsement, Abiya assured party members that the NNPP would act fairly and justly in all internal matters.
He reaffirmed the Kano chapter’s loyalty to the party’s national leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and pledged continued support for the Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf.
According to him, his immediate focus would be restoring internal discipline, strengthening cohesion and repositioning the party for future political engagements in the state.
The leadership change is the latest development in a dispute that began when 27 executive members of the NNPP in Gargari Ward, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area, resolved to sack and expel Dungurawa at their second executive meeting held two weeks after the general election.
Led by the Ward Chairman, Shuaibu Hassan, and Secretary, Yahaya Saidu-Dungurawa, the ward executives accused Dungurawa of anti-party activities, including creating divisions within the party, instigating internal crises, failing to pay party dues and making abusive remarks against Governor Yusuf.
They described his alleged conduct as detrimental to the unity and image of the NNPP, insisting that their action was taken in strict compliance with the party’s constitution.
They further disclosed that copies of the resolution were forwarded to the party’s local government, state and national headquarters, as well as to Kwankwaso and Governor Yusuf, for information and further directives, while reaffirming their loyalty to the party’s national leadership.
*Dungurawa rejects removal
Dungurawa, however, has rejected the ward’s decision, dismissing it as baseless and constitutionally invalid.
Addressing journalists in Kano, he insisted that he remains the bona fide chairman of the NNPP in the state, arguing that neither the state nor the national leadership of the party had formally removed him from office.
He described the attempts to expel him as inconsequential and lacking constitutional backing, warning against what he termed misinformation and internal discord aimed at destabilising the party in Kano State.
With Abiya’s emergence now endorsed by the State Executive Committee, the NNPP is asserting institutional authority over the dispute.
However, Dungurawa’s continued rejection of the process underscores lingering questions about due process, internal democracy, and whether the latest power shift will finally stabilise the party or deepen existing fault lines within its Kano chapter.
