Yunusa Isa, Gombe

The Gombe State Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) Hon. Barrister Rambi Ibrahim Ayala, has welcomed the Federal High Court order, restraining the party’s national office from substituting the ward, local government and state party executives.

Speaking to newsmen with delight, Barrister Ayala said “The order is a big gain for democracy”.

While describing the decision of the national office as illegal and anti democratic, the state chairman said “The dissolution of our executive not only contravene NNPP constitution, but also the 1999 Nigerian constitution as amended”.

He said with no letter of notification or accusation for any wrong doing from the national office, they woke up with a social media post, dissolving the ward, local government and state executives of the party, a development he said made them approach the court for redress.

The chairman described the move as political sabotage to undermine the party’s boldness in the state, having a complete and vibrant structure at all levels.

While calling for unity and patriotism among party members, the state chairman expressed optimism that NNPP in the state will continue to triumph for the progress of democracy.

“All our efforts and commitment is just to ensure NNPP become active and vibrant political party that can not only rub shoulders with the rulling party, but also seize power through democratic means come 2027. As one who wish to contest for election, I’m not after the leadership of the party, all I’m concern is to make the NNPP fully active, and ensure all is done on the basis of its constitution and the rule of law”, Barrister Rambi added.

Efforts to hear from Sulaiman Hamza, Secretary of the care taker committee put in place by the NNPP National Office to man the party affairs in the state proved abortive, as calls through his phones were not answered.

A Federal High Court sitting in Gombe has on Monday stopped the NNPP National Office from substituting the wards, local governments and state party executive in Gombe State, pending the hearing and determination of a suit filed by six applicants before the court.

The order followed a four-point prayer presented by the six applicants; Yunusa Aliyu Wade, Daniel Solomon, Samaila Ibrahim, Ahmed Usman, Adamu Garba and Paulo Barnabas Lamiya suing for themselves and on behalf of the executive of NNPP in Gombe State, filed before the court on Friday, 6th December, 2024.

Respondents in the case are: the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), National Chairman NNPP, the National Secretary NNPP, National Legal Adviser NNPP, the National Working Committee NNPP, Board Of Trustees NNPP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The applicants requested the court:

An order for interim interlocutory Injunction restraining the defendants, their agent and privies of any person acting on their behalf from substituting the names of the plaintiffs as the wards, local governments and state executive committees of the NNPP in Gombe State pending the hearing and determination of the plaintifs’ motion on notice filed before the court.

An order for the court granting the applicants leave to serve the originating summons and all other process in the suit and or service upon any of the 1st to 6th defendants principal officers at the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) office located along Bauchi Road, Gombe State within the jurisdiction of the court.

An order of the court granting the applicants leave to serve the originating summons and all other processes in the suit and or service upon any of the 7 defendant’s principal officers at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Office behind Federal Secretariat, Gombe within the jurisdiction of the court.

And for such further orders as the court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.

In the order, the court, through Justice T.G Ringim granted the first and second prayers of the applicants, however refused the third prayer, maintaining that “The plaintiffs/applicants shall serve the 1st and 7th respondent in the manner provided under the civil procedure rule of this court”.

The court fixed 27 January, 2025 for hearing this the applicants’ motion on notice.