The New Nigeria Peoples Party has dismissed reports suggesting that the National Leader of the party, Rabiu Kwankwaso, overreached himself in purported negotiations for his defection to the All Progressives Congress.

Responding to the reports, the NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, dismissed the claim that the former Kano State governor entered into any negotiation with the APC.

Ladipo, in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, stated that Kwankwaso never got to the stage where he contemplated defecting to the APC.

“It’s regrettable that such lies are not only being orchestrated by some individuals, purportedly sounding authoritative, but unfortunately, also published as lead stories in major newspapers!” Johnson stressed: “We wish to state categorically and for the record that at no time did Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso have any meeting with President Bola Tinubu or any of his proxies either in the APC or otherwise where issues of defection were discussed.”

“Just days ago, a newspaper carried a lead story about the “details” of why Senator Kwankwaso’s “defection” failed, predicated so shamelessly on account of his purported demands before joining the APC. It was all hogwash, as nothing like that ever took place. It could be assumed that the story was sponsored to discredit Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso. But they have failed in this monstrous campaign of calumny.

“This is the truth and nothing but the truth and to this extent, we call on Nigerians to disregard such media orchestrations either as news stories or those peddling the misleading information in their articles and columns. It’s all a hatchet job to tarnish Kwankwaso’s reputation but these mischief makers have failed woefully”.

Following the defection of the Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, to the APC, there were reports that the APC fell out with Kwankwaso due to what was described as his “high demands.” Indeed, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Global Investment and Trade Company, Baba Yusuf, in an interview with Arise TV on Friday, said Kwankwaso misjudged his political leverage in his reported negotiations with the APC. “I will agree with the second outcome you mentioned — that Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso overreached,” Yusuf said.

“Again I stress that it is a blatant lie that Kwankwaso made demands or entered into negotiations with the APC or Tinubu for his defection to their party. That never happened. “The last time he sat with the President was in January 2024, and there was no discussion about defecting to the APC. Those spreading the defection rumours were probably those who wanted to move to the APC, and who have done so now!

“It is quite clear that there is a conspiracy by the political elite to discredit Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; one fueled by these lies and half-baked opinions and articles with warped conclusions. Some have even concluded that the Senator is a “local champion”, but time will tell. Obviously, some people are trying to preempt Senator Kwankwaso’s next political move and want to stop him from entering into any alliance that they feel would be detrimental to their continued hold on power.“Kwankwaso is a man of integrity and plays his politics well, having the interest of the general public at heart. It is rather heart warming that his political base and the talakawas are not swayed by what is contained in these elitist newspapers and television” Johnson said.

In a significant development resolving the prolonged leadership crisis in the Labour Party (LP), a Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the caretaker committee led by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman as the legitimate authority representing the party.

The ruling, delivered on January 21, 2026, by Justice Peter Lifu, declared that the tenure of Julius Abure as National Chairman had expired, in line with a prior Supreme Court judgment from April 2025.

The court affirmed the Nenadi Usman-led caretaker committee as the only valid body to act for and on behalf of the Labour Party, pending the conduct of a national convention.

The decision stems from ongoing factional disputes within the opposition party, which intensified after the 2023 general elections. Senator Usman was appointed as interim National Chairman in September 2024 to oversee the party’s affairs amid the turmoil.

Following the judgment, Senator Nenadi Usman stated that INEC’s implementation of the court order would ensure only one Labour Party appears on the ballot in future elections, particularly ahead of the 2027 general polls. “With the recognition by INEC, it means only one party, which is my party, would be on the ballot,” Usman said in an interview.

“There is no ambiguity about who the leader is, and only we can write to INEC to attend our primary elections or congresses.

“The ruling has been described by supporters of the Usman faction as a victory for democracy, the rule of law, and party stability. It directs INEC to treat all correspondence from Usman as valid and official, effectively sidelining the rival Abure faction.

The Abure-led group has reportedly indicated intentions to appeal the decision, maintaining their claim to the party’s leadership. However, the court dismissed arguments that the matter was purely an internal party affair.

This development is expected to streamline the Labour Party’s preparations for upcoming primaries, congresses, and the 2027 elections, potentially strengthening its position as a key opposition force. INEC is yet to issue a public statement confirming full compliance with the court directive, but stakeholders anticipate swift action to avoid further electoral complications.

Photo: APC NWC meeting

At its 183rd meeting, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), held on Friday, 30th January 2026, at the Party’s National Secretariat, Abuja, adopted the following resolutions:

1. The electronic membership registration exercise has been extended from 31st January 2026 to 8th February 2026, following requests from Party stakeholders.

This extension is to enable more supporters and members to register and validate their membership.

2. Ward Congresses will hold on Wednesday, 18th February 2026, while the National Convention is now scheduled to be held on 27th–28th March 2026.

Osun State , Ekiti State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are excluded from scheduled Congresses due to upcoming elections, while Rivers State is excluded due to the subsisting tenure the current executive committees of the Party in the State. 

3. The National Convention Planning Committee was duly constituted.

Further details on the adjusted Congress and National Convention timetable and schedule of activities, and composition of the National Convention Planning Committee will be announced in due course.