THE political rift within the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) deepened on Saturday as its Kano State chapter announced the expulsion of Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin Kofa, member of the House of Representatives for Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency.
News Point Nigeria reports that the decision, according to the party, was based on allegations of anti-party activities, disloyalty, and failure to meet his financial obligations to the NNPP.
Addressing journalists in Kano, the state chairman of the NNPP, Hashim Sulaiman Dungurawa, said the lawmaker’s repeated public criticisms of the party leadership and open flirtation with rival political camps left the party with no choice but to wield the big stick.
“If he was truly strong politically, he would have won his election under the APC, but he failed. It was when he joined NNPP through Kwankwasiyya that he became a House of Reps member.
“Now he is deceiving himself thinking he is strong,” Dungurawa declared.
The expulsion comes barely 24 hours after Jibrin hinted in a media interview that it “shouldn’t come as a surprise” if he decides to dump the NNPP, stressing that he is old enough to make independent political choices.
Dungurawa, however, dismissed Jibrin’s bravado, describing him as a politician whose electoral survival has always depended on riding on the coattails of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s Kwankwasiyya movement.
The party chairman disclosed that the NNPP had initially set up a reconciliation committee to caution Jibrin after his controversial interview with Channels Television. But instead of toning down, the lawmaker allegedly escalated his criticisms in subsequent outings, openly pledging loyalty outside the party.
“Instead of dialogue, he went further to work against our interest, openly declaring loyalty outside the party. That is why we expelled him. He has no value to add,” Dungurawa said.
In addition to accusations of disloyalty, the NNPP also accused Jibrin of defaulting in the payment of mandatory party dues.
“We will drag him to court to recover what he owes the party. It is a constitutional requirement for every member to pay dues, but he has consistently failed to do so,” Dungurawa told reporters.
With his expulsion, speculations are rife that Jibrin may be on his way back to the All Progressives Congress (APC), his former party. But Dungurawa dismissed concerns that Jibrin’s exit would weaken the NNPP, insisting that Kwankwasiyya’s grassroots base remains unshaken.
“Politics is about groups and coalitions. NNPP is solid, and Kwankwasiyya is stronger than ever. The exit of one individual cannot diminish our strength,” he added.
The development marks the latest twist in Abdulmumin Jibrin’s eventful political journey.
A former APC stalwart and ex-chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Jibrin defected to the NNPP ahead of the 2023 elections, where he secured his return to the House of Representatives.