The National Working Committee (NWC) of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has condemned a Federal High Court ruling in Abia, which ordered Dr. Boniface Aniebonam to take over the leadership of the party.
The NNPP has labeled the judgment as “fraudulent” and declared it legally void.
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In a statement issued by the NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, the party argued that the court’s decision was made “per incuriam”—a legal term for a ruling that ignores relevant law, rendering it invalid.
Johnson clarified that the court’s judgment was based on an outdated version of the party’s constitution, which had been amended on April 6, 2024, and that Dr. Aniebonam, along with others claiming to be members of the Board of Trustees (BOT), had already been expelled from the party.
The expulsion was confirmed by a previous Federal High Court ruling in Abuja.
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The Abia court had instructed that the NNPP’s BOT be immediately handed over to Dr. Aniebonam’s faction.
However, Johnson refuted this decision, asserting that the Abia court lacked the jurisdiction to rule on the matter, as no official summons or legal documents were delivered to the party at its registered office.
“None of the authentic National Working Committee members, whose names and addresses are registered with INEC, received the legal processes leading to this judgment,” Johnson explained.
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He further emphasized that the NNPP’s registered office, as listed with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is located at No. 11 Mahatma Gandhi Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, in compliance with the requirements of Section 222 of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act of 2022.
Additionally, Johnson pointed out that a Federal High Court in Abuja had previously ruled that the individuals involved in the Abia case had been officially expelled from the party.
The Abuja court also clarified that the BOT has no executive powers and is simply an advisory body, which contradicts the Abia court’s ruling.
In closing, Johnson dismissed the Abia judgment as a “spurious” decision, obtained through questionable means.
“This judgment contradicts a standing Federal High Court ruling in Abuja, and as such, it holds no legal weight,” he stated firmly.
