The New Nigeria Peoples Party has explained its recent closed door meeting with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja, insisting that it will pursue all lawful means to ensure compliance with court rulings regarding its leadership dispute.
The party made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Secretary General, Ogini Olaposi, following discussions held on Tuesday at INEC headquarters involving party executives and their legal counsel.
According to the NNPP, the meeting was convened to press INEC to implement several court judgments affirming the party’s recognised leadership structure. However, the party claimed the engagement ended without resolution.
Olaposi alleged that INEC has continued to delay or refuse implementation of court orders relating to the recognition of its national leadership, including the faction led by Dr Boniface Aniebonam and Dr Agbo Major.
He stated that the party had earlier considered protests but suspended them to avoid infiltration by hoodlums, opting instead to pursue legal and diplomatic channels.
The NNPP also referenced multiple court decisions, including rulings from the Abia State High Court, Federal Capital Territory High Court, and the Owerri Court of Appeal, which it claims ordered INEC to recognise its leadership structure and update its records accordingly.
The party further expressed dissatisfaction over INEC’s alleged failure to comply with a mandamus order directing it to upload the party’s authentic leadership details within a specified timeframe.
According to Olaposi, INEC Chairman Prof Joash Amupitan did not provide clear reasons for the commission’s non compliance during the meeting and only stated that the party would be informed of future actions.
He said the development suggests uncertainty over whether the commission will implement the court rulings before the next election cycle.
The NNPP warned that it would take additional legal steps, including seeking court intervention to extend electoral timelines if necessary, to ensure its participation in future elections.
The party also called on key national institutions, including the Presidency, the National Assembly, the judiciary, and security agencies, to take note of the situation, stressing that no institution should be above the law.
It described the alleged non compliance as a threat to democratic principles and contrary to the spirit of national electoral reforms.
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