Agbo Major-led NNPP faction tells INEC to halt elections over logo dispute

A faction of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has demanded that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) suspend all elections until the party’s “authentic” logo is on ballot papers.

The party has been embroiled in a leadership crisis after a faction held a convention in February, electing a new national working committee (NWC).

At the convention, Major was elected as the national chairman of the party.

In a letter dated August 25 by Ndubuisi Ukpai, the faction’s counsel, warned INEC to refrain from conducting all elections until it reflects the “true and correct” logo of the party and participation of the party under the leadership of Agbo as the legitimate national chairman.

He said INEC must cease and desist from recognising Ajuji Ahmed as the national chairman of the party.

“We remain counsel to the authentic leadership of the NNPP, under the national chairmanship of Agbo, and write at their instance,” the letter reads.

“You will recall our previous correspondence, wherein we drew the commission’s attention to the imperative of strict compliance with subsisting judgments of competent courts, affirming the authentic leadership of the NNPP.”

Ukpai reminded INEC of previous court rulings affirming the authentic leadership of the NNPP under Agbo and accused the commission of ignoring these judgments.

The NNPP counsel noted that on August 15, the federal capital territory high court granted the party leave to seek an order compelling INEC to comply with the court’s decisions.

“Consequent upon this, an Originating Motion on Notice had been duly filed and served on the commission,” the letter reads.

“May we respectfully remind the commission that upon the grant of leave in judicial review proceedings, the law imposes a duty to maintain the status quo and refrain from taking steps capable of rendering the substantive proceedings nugatory.

“As was held in Governor of Lagos State v. Ojukwu (1986) 1 NWLR (Pt. 18) 621, no party, and least of all a public institution, is permitted to take the law into its own hands or foist a fait accompli on the court.

“To do otherwise is to court judicial reproach and expose responsible officers to personal consequences for contempt of court.”