Some Kaduna State Stakeholders of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) on Sunday staged a protest at the party’s secretariat, calling for the substitution of the state governorship candidate, Alhaji Suleiman Hunkuyi.
The stakeholders told newsmen that Hunkuyi lacked the capacity to deliver the state for NNPP in 2023 general election.
Malam Najib Zakari, a stakeholder and the party’s candidate for Chukum state House of Assembly constituency seat, said that the emergence of Hunkuyi as the governorship candidate has brought disunity among party the hierarchy.
“The emergence of Hunkuyi has brought disunity among the state party executives, local government executives and other candidates.
“Many people believed that he lacked the popularity needed for the party to win the 2023 election, some of us feel that he is trying to trade the party with other political parties. Many people had wanted to join the party, but declined because of him.
“ As far as I’m concerned, his candidature will negatively affect our chances at all levels in the state including the presidential election.
“If there is an opportunity to substitute him, it should be done so quickly,” Zakari said.
Also speaking, Hajiya Habiba Abdullahi Dogarawa, the NNPP Women Leader for Sabon Gari Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, said that the problem with the governorship candidate was his inability to carry others along.
“This is a politics, although I wouldn’t want to blame Hunkuyi entirely, I believe there are some party officials working with him to destroy the party.
“ I think the major problem is his inability to carry the party officials along, I think substituting him is the best option for peace and progress of the party, it should be done,’’ Dogarawa said.
She said that the only way out was for the party to request him to step aside to allow for a better candidate for 2023 poll.
Malam Magaji Kurmin-Mashi, a chieftain called on the national leadership of the party to intervene and ensure that Hunkuyi was substituted with a more popular candidate for 2023 poll.
Kurmin-Mashi, also the secretary of the state NNPP stakeholders forum, said the party must act immediately if it wanted to win the state 2023 governorship election.
He said, that the basic problem was the unforgiving attitude of the governorship candidate.
“I think that Hunkuyi is popular and experienced but his unforgiving attitude is a major weakness.
“I am afraid when we go out for election, this attitude will affect NNPP, please convince him to step aside so that the party will prosper,’’ he said.
Speaking, the state NNPP chairman, Mr Ben Kure, acknowledged that there were some disagreement among the state party executives, saying however, that the national leadership had been notified for action.
Kure said that the problem must be resolved, so that the party can approach the 2023 general election as a common front toward dislodging the ruling APC from the state.
“ It is a crisis which must be tackled immediately,’’ he said.
But, Alhaji Buba Galadima, a chieftain of the party, said that the NNPP has no crises in kaduna state.
Galadima told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna that the party was poised to win the state governorship election in 2023.
He faulted the accusations against the party’s candidate, saying that he was elected through free,fair and credible process.
“ To the best of my knowledge there is no protest in Kaduna and the party’s activities are on course to winning the state 2023 governorship election.
“ Anybody that has complain should follow due process, after all it is party affairs, whether you like Hunkuyi or not, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recognised him as the party’s governorship candidate for 2023 poll.
“INEC has also closed the window for candidate’s substitution for 2023 except in case of court ruling, voluntary resignation or death,” he said.
He advised aggrieved party members to abide by its Constitution and channel their grievances through appropriate channels.
