NNPP Drags INEC, 45 Lawmakers to Court Over Alleged Defections
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and 45 lawmakers before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged defections from the party, seeking a judicial interpretation of the constitutional implications of their actions.
The party is asking the court to determine whether the affected lawmakers can continue occupying legislative seats they won under the NNPP platform during the 2023 general elections after allegedly defecting to other political parties.
The suit, filed by the party through its legal representatives, Lex Firma LP, involves members of the Kano State House of Assembly, the House of Representatives and the Senate.
In an affidavit supporting the originating summons, the NNPP alleged that the lawmakers abandoned the party for other political platforms without following the procedures required to formally terminate their membership.
The party further claimed that some of the affected politicians had already appeared on INEC’s candidate lists for the 2027 general elections under different political parties, despite allegedly remaining registered members of the NNPP.
Consequently, the party wants the court to determine whether their alleged defections fall within the constitutional exceptions that allow elected lawmakers to switch political parties without automatically losing their legislative seats.
The NNPP is relying on Sections 68(1)(g) and 68(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which address defections by members of the National Assembly. It is also citing Sections 109(1)(g) and 109(2), which contain similar provisions governing members of state Houses of Assembly.
The party argued that it has neither merged with another political organisation nor ceased to exist as a registered political party. It therefore maintained that the constitutional provisions allowing lawmakers to retain their seats after defecting do not apply to the circumstances surrounding the alleged defections.
The NNPP is also asking the court to direct the relevant legislative authorities to take appropriate constitutional action over the affected seats, including the possibility of declaring them vacant and conducting bye-elections.
The party stated that it would be willing to participate in any bye-elections that may become necessary if the court rules that the affected lawmakers have forfeited their positions.
Beyond the constitutional provisions, the NNPP is relying on Articles 8.2(a), 8.2(b) and 8.3(a) of its party constitution, arguing that the lawmakers failed to obtain the required clearance from its Board of Trustees before leaving the party.
To strengthen its position, the party cited a judgment delivered by the Abia State High Court on November 1, 2024, in Suit No. HUZ/11/2024, as well as a Court of Appeal judgment delivered by the Owerri Division on March 30, 2026, in Appeal No. CA/OW/271/2025.
According to the NNPP, the decisions affirmed the authority of its Board of Trustees and founder in matters relating to the administration of the party.
Before filing the lawsuit, the party had written to INEC on October 19, 2026, requesting an investigation into the alleged defections and the circumstances surrounding the lawmakers’ purported resignations and subsequent membership of other political parties.
The party expressed concern over what it described as a situation in which politicians allegedly remained on its membership register while simultaneously being recognised as members or candidates of other political parties ahead of the 2027 elections.
NNPP founder and Chairman of its Board of Trustees, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, also cautioned against attempts to backdate resignation documents for members who allegedly failed to complete the party’s exit procedures before the matter was reported to INEC.
Aniebonam warned that the party would reject any attempt to retrospectively legitimise such resignations, adding that falsifying resignation records could amount to criminal conduct.
In its October 19 correspondence to INEC, the NNPP specifically mentioned Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, 18 members of the House of Representatives, 28 members of the Kano State House of Assembly and two senators as individuals it alleged had not fulfilled its resignation requirements.
However, the figures contained in that letter do not correspond exactly with the 45 lawmakers identified in the current lawsuit. Reports surrounding the court action have yet to clarify the difference.
The affidavit supporting the suit was deposed to by Junia Oludare, a litigation secretary at Lex Firma LP, at the Federal High Court Registry in Abuja on October 27, 2026.
