2027 Elections: NNPP Seeks Court Ruling On Fate Of 45 Alleged Defectors

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking a determination of the legal status of 45 lawmakers accused of defecting from the party without completing the required resignation procedures.

The party has instituted legal proceedings against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the affected lawmakers, questioning their continued occupation of legislative seats they secured on the NNPP platform during the 2023 general elections.

The case involves members of the Kano State House of Assembly, the House of Representatives and the Senate.

In an affidavit filed in support of its originating summons, the NNPP alleged that the lawmakers abandoned the party for other political platforms without complying with the procedures stipulated for ending their membership.

The party is asking the court to interpret and enforce constitutional provisions governing the defection of elected lawmakers from the political parties on whose platforms they won their mandates.

It also expressed concern that some of the affected lawmakers had reportedly been listed by INEC as candidates of other political parties for the 2027 general elections.

The NNPP questioned the legality of their nominations and their continued membership of the legislative houses after allegedly leaving the party that sponsored their elections.

In a letter dated October 19, 2026, addressed to INEC, the party said it had earlier notified the commission about the alleged defections and requested an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the lawmakers’ resignations and movement to other political parties.

The party further alleged that some of the lawmakers remained on its membership register while simultaneously being registered as members of other political parties, a situation it argued was contrary to existing regulations governing political party membership.

It also claimed that the affected lawmakers failed to obtain the necessary clearance from its Board of Trustees and comply with the party’s electoral guidelines before leaving.

The NNPP cited Articles 8.2(a), 8.2(b) and 8.3(a) of its constitution, insisting that the provisions were allegedly violated by the lawmakers.

Meanwhile, the party’s founder and Chairman of its Board of Trustees, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, has warned against attempts to backdate resignation letters to make the alleged defections appear to have been properly completed.

Aniebonam maintained that the party would not recognise any attempt to use retrospective dates to regularise resignations submitted after INEC had been notified of the alleged non-compliance.

He further warned that falsifying resignation records could amount to criminal conduct.

The NNPP is urging the court to determine the legal consequences of the alleged defections, particularly regarding the lawmakers’ continued occupation of their seats and the validity of their reported nominations ahead of the 2027 general elections.