By Izuchukwu Ozoemena

Following alleged anti-party activities, the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), Tuesday, suspended its presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso. The party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) also dissolved its National Working Committee (NWC) and appointed a new one.

The suspension of Kwankwaso was part of resolutions after a crucial General Assembly in Lagos, Monday and Tuesday.

Kwankwaso was accused of short-changing the party, NNPP, by unilaterally entering into collaboration with presidential aspirants of opposition parties in the 2023 presidential election without authorization.

The opposition parties are the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), and Labour Party (LP).

According to the resolutions whose adoption was moved by Hon. Adeyemi Olusoja, Ogun State’s Yewa South Local Government Chairman and seconded by Mr. Abdullahi Nasamy, NNPP Kwara State Secretary, Kwankwaso has ceased to be recognized as a national leader of the party following his suspension.

NNPP’s BOT, however, reversed the suspension of the dismissal of national officers as well as the disolution of state chapters by the National Working Committee (NWC) announced days earlier.

The communique recalled that a clique of individuals in the system had unilaterally amended the NNPP Constitution without due process and authorization of the General Assembly, thus, infringing upon the party’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and violating the inalienable rights of the National Working Committee, NWC.

“BOT decided that material evidence in the public sector affirm that Senator Kwankwaso was involved in anti-party activities in various meetings, suggested political discussions with President Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi without authorization from the board. This has earned him 6 months suspension pending the outcome of investigations by the Disciplinary Committee.”

“About 8 states Chapters of the old NNPP were unceremoniously dissolved by the incompetent NWC. The letters of reinstatement of the suspended executive Chairmen of the various states issued by the Chairman of BOT in accordance with the Board’s inherent powers to call to order stands valid.”

“The BoT Chairman, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam resigned and a new BoT Chairman, Dr. Chief Tope Aluko was elected with Engr Babayo Muhammed Abdulahi as new BOT Secretary, while High Chief Tony Obioha was elected as BoT spokesperson.”

“BOT members take strong exception to Buba Galadima parading of himself as BOT Secretary. This conduct is in violation of the composition of the members of the BOT in accordance with our Constitution.”

“The NWC was declared incompetent due to attrition and failure of the members to follow the constitution and due process in filling the vacant positions. The NWC can no longer perform its role and is no longer relevant in the eyes of the law,” the communique stated.

Meanwhile, the BoT appointed and inaugurated new national officers headed by Dr. Agbo Major as acting National Chairman and Comrade Ogini Olaposi as acting National Secretary.

“Constitutionally, the nomenclature, ‘national leader’ is not in existence for a failed Presidential candidate. So, the Board moved that Engr. Rabiu Kwankwaso can no longer be referenced an National Leader. Ditto for state leaders”.

“The purported suspension of the Founder was a flagrant gross violation of the NNPP constitution such that it is tantamount to recklessness and irresponsibility on the part of the incompetent NWC.”

“Our Abuja office remains Plot 511, Herbert Marcaulay Way, Suite A1 to A3, Willian’s Plaza, Zone 4, Wuse, Abuja.”

“The BOT insisted that the avoidable violation of MOU between NNPP on the one part and Kwankwasla, TNM and NAGAFF on the other has no other choice than to withdraw from the partnership. It is therefore to state clearly that the MOU have been rendered invalid,” the communique read.

By Izuchukwu Ozoemena

In the countdown to the 2023 general elections, the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport (CILT), Lagos State Branch, recently organized a virtual seminar on Logistics & Electoral Process to sensitize and create needed awareness not only among her members but other Nigerians.

In his opening remarks, the Lagos Branch Chairman, Mr Bashir Ambi Mohammed, FCILT, tasked members to embrace the knowledge-sharing  and other benefits on electoral matters they stood to gain.

He reminded them of the critical roles logistics plays not only during elections but to the overall national development.

In her keynote address, President and Chairperson of the Council of CILT-Nigeria, Barr (Mrs）Mfon Usoro, FCILT, commended the branch and stated that the topic is appropriate on the issue at hand not only in Nigeria but across the globe.

Usoro who was the special guest stated that the essence of the topic is to achieve credible elections in Nigeria while eliciting maximum participation of the electorate. She stressed the need to articulate key discussions and resolutions at the seminar and forward same to INEC  as contributions of logistics experts in Nigeria.

Delivering his paper, the guest lecturer, Dr. Benedict Ayantoyinbo, CMILT, stated that credible elections cannot be possible without effective and efficient logistics.

Ayantoyinbo, Associate Professor, Department of Transport Management, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho, discussed logistics, electoral process, inbound and outbound logistics.

The university don also dwelt on the Bimodal Voter’s Accreditation System (BVAS), Pre-election logistics, post – election process, logistics systems of INEC and  the CBN. He also discussed the transportation of INEC materials, the comparative increase in INEC’s budget, challenges of the electoral process, ad-hoc staff, problems of voting in rural areas and the need to deploy more security agencies and other facilities in the rural areas as well.

Ayantoyinbo called for the use of the electronic processing and assessment system in other aspects of national development apart from adopting same to ensure efficient and effective logistics system during elections.

On her part, the moderator of the seminar, Mrs Margaret Ogbonna, FCILT, ensured that the question and answer session was properly managed.

The seminar recorded an impressive attendance of members across all the modes of Logistics and Transport in the country.