he New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to promptly implement existing court judgments validating its leadership structure, warning that failure to do so could trigger widespread protests across the country.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, the factional National Chairman of the party, Agbo Major, said the intervention was necessary to safeguard democratic principles, uphold the rule of law, and protect the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.
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Major accused INEC of disregarding multiple court decisions by continuing to recognise groups previously led by Dr. Ajuji Ahmed and now headed by Bala Mohammed, whom he described as members of an expelled faction of the party.
According to him, the commission’s actions undermine democratic norms and constitute a serious challenge to the authority of the courts.
Providing an overview of the prolonged leadership dispute within the NNPP, Major said a series of judicial rulings over the past three and a half years had effectively resolved the matter.
He explained that while an earlier court ruling in Abuja classified the dispute as an internal party issue, a later judgment by an Abia State High Court restored the party’s leadership to its Board of Trustees, headed by Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, and directed the reactivation of all statutory organs of the party.
Major noted that after the successful conduct of ward, local government and zonal congresses, an FCT High Court further validated the processes undertaken by the party.
He stated that due to INEC’s failure to act on the court decisions, his faction obtained a mandamus order compelling the commission to upload the Major-led National Working Committee within 72 hours and submit evidence of compliance within 14 days.
He also revealed that the Court of Appeal in Owerri upheld the Abia High Court judgment, affirming that a judge lacks the authority to overturn his own final decision.
Major expressed disappointment that despite the clear judicial directives, INEC had yet to comply several months after the mandamus order was issued.
He called on the commission’s leadership to obey the court rulings without further delay, insisting that continued non-compliance would erode public confidence in democratic institutions.
Accusing the electoral body of bias, intentional delay and efforts to weaken the party ahead of the 2027 general elections, Major warned that the NNPP faction was prepared to mobilise supporters for nationwide protests if its leadership was not officially recognised.
He maintained that the filing of a notice of appeal by the opposing faction does not automatically suspend the enforcement of existing judgments and should not be treated as such by a regulatory institution.
Major further disclosed that contempt proceedings against INEC remain before the court and are scheduled to continue on June 30.
Addressing concerns about preparations for the 2027 elections, he said the party had consistently submitted its timetable of activities, membership records and primary election documents to INEC through its legal representatives.
He warned that if the commission persisted in denying the faction recognition, it could seek additional legal remedies, including requests for an accelerated hearing or adjustments to the election timetable to prevent the exclusion of its candidates.
Major also appealed to members of the international community, diplomatic missions, civil society groups and the Nigerian public to intervene in what he described as an attempt to undermine democratic governance through regulatory excesses.
Meanwhile, the party’s National Auditor, Olayinka Dada, dismissed reports suggesting that the NNPP was considering a coalition or alliance with any political party ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Dada affirmed that the party, under Major’s leadership, would field its own presidential candidate and offer Nigerians what he described as a credible alternative in the next general election.
NAN
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