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A faction of the New Nigeria Peoples Party ( NNPC) has dragged the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and 13 others to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over an alleged misappropriation of over N2 billion.
The faction in a petition by its National Secretary, Oginni Olaposi, alleged that there was mismanagement of the party’s fund.
Olaposi in the petition addressed to the EFCC chairman, said an estimated sum of N2.5 billion made from the sales of nomination forms, membership subscription fees, and donations were not accounted for by expelled leadership of the party.
He urged the EFCC boss to investigate the account of the party from March 2022 till date.
The petition reads partly, “The whole thing became obvious when payments due to polling agents during the elections were denied, NNPP’s members across the country became frustrated and till today the agent's allowance for 2023 general elections remained unpaid.”
“Mr. Chairman sir, you may be surprised to know that till today, all the money from the sales of nomination forms, membership subscription fees and donations made by donors and friends of the party are yet to be accounted for.
“Recognising the fact that anyone coming to equity must come with clean hands, It is our concern that a party with the potentiality of forming a government of a new Nigeria must make sure that charity begins at home by purging ourselves of every tendency of corruption and mismanagement of funds.
“On the aforementioned allegations, we hereby request that you investigate the account of New Nigeria People’s Party starting from March 2022 till date,” the petition added.
Reacting to the development, the spokesman of the Kwankwaso Presidential Campaign Council, Ladipo Johnson, said the party does not have a faction, insisting that a non-member of the party cannot ask how money was spent.
He added, “We don’t have a faction. These people are not a faction of the party, they can petition anywhere they want to petition; they are no longer members of the party. They can continue to write spurious petitions and allegations.
Johnson further said, “They can go to EFCC, Police and do whatever they want to do. They are meddlesome interlopers who do not have a leg to stand.”
