Court reinstates Abiya as Kano NNPP chairman, bars Dungurawa from office

A High Court in Kano state has nullified the dissolution of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) executives in the state, affirming Abdullahi Abiya as the authentic state chairman.

The court restrained Hashimu Suleiman Dungurawa from parading himself as chairman.

Justice Nasiru Saminu, in his verdict, held that the NNPP National Working Committee (NWC) acted outside its constitutional powers when it dissolved the state, local government, and ward executives on January 2, 2026.

The court ruled that the NWC improperly relied on Article 10.3 of the party’s constitution and carried out the “blanket dissolution” without the involvement of the National Executive Committee (NEC).

Abiya had dragged the NNPP NWC to court, challenging the dissolution of the Kano leadership without a fair hearing. He also sued Dungurawa for parading himself as a parallel chairman.

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Justice Saminu declared the dissolution “ultra vires, unconstitutional, null and void,” noting it was done without notice or hearing. This, the court said, violated Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution and Article 18(12) of the NNPP constitution.

The judge issued a perpetual injunction restraining the party and its agents from interfering with the tenure of the duly elected state, local government, and ward executives in Kano.

The court also upheld Dungurawa’s expulsion from the NNPP. It ruled that the expulsion, first declared by his Gargari ward and later ratified by the Dawakin-Tofa local government area and state executive council, was “valid, lawful, and in full compliance with the party’s constitution.”

Dungurawa, widely seen as an ally of NNPP national leader Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, was specifically barred “whether by himself, his agents, privies, servants or any person acting through or under him” from parading himself as Kano NNPP chairman or performing any functions of that office.

Justice Saminu granted all reliefs sought by Abiya, including setting aside the January 2 dissolution and declaring any actions taken under it “illegal, ineffective, and of no legal consequence.” The court awarded N500,000 in costs against Dungurawa and the NWC in favour of Abiya.

The ruling is seen as a setback for Kwankwaso’s camp in Kano NNPP politics. With the African Democratic Congress facing an internal crisis, the NNPP had been viewed as Kwankwaso’s potential second option. The judgment now leaves Abiya in control of the Kano structure.

At press time, neither the NNPP national headquarters nor Dungurawa had stated whether they would appeal the ruling.