By Yunusa Isa, Gombe

The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has ratified the endorsement of its wards, local governments and state executives as substantive party leaders in Gombe State.

Speaking while ratifying the hitherto acting leaders, the national party representative Dr Oke Babatunde said the new party leadership has the full support of the national executives.

“This affirmation is in consonant with our party constitution, I congratulate you for being part of this rescue journey to set Gombe free from socioeconomic and political trauma, justice shall soon prevail. This is our time, and we shall overcome” Dr Babatunde declared.

While expressing confidence that the party shall constitute the next administration in Gombe, Dr Oke maintained that the new journey has three destinations to take the state through; success, justice and freedom.

On his part, the substantive party chairman in the state Barrister Rambi Ibrahim Ayala, said the affirmation exercise followed a leadership gap in the NNPP structure from ward to state level, a development he said has contributed to the party’s set back in the previous general elections.

Rambi noted that shortly after the abdication of the former NNPP state chairman, it was discovered that the party was majorly operating under ‘audio executive’ who he described as ghost leaders.

“To bridge this serious gap, article 30 of our party constitution has provided for the filling of vacancies, so what we are doing this morning is in accordance with the NNPP constitution”.

While reiterating support and loyalty to party’s leadership at national level, Rambi assured to carry everyone along, maintaining that “NNPP now has full fledged structure and ready for any poll”.

In their respective goodwill messages, some party stalwarts to include the deputy gubernatorial candidate of the NNPP in 2023 Hon Hamma Abubakar Tanimu, the 2023 Campaign Director General Dr Samaila Muhammad (Sa’in Dukku) and Barrister Audu Baba Kwami charged the new substantive leaders to be worthy ambassadors of the party, and discharge their duties with all honesty and sincerity.

While identifying leadership gap and poor executive as major factors that led to NNPP’s set back in 2023, the party elders expressed confidence in the new leadership, expressing optimism that the party would effectively participate and won in any upcoming election.

The state, local government and ward acting executives were personally identified and subjected to comments, observations or objections before their subsequent ratification.

Representatives from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) witnessed the affirmation exercise.