The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) gained power in Kano in 2023 with strong grassroots support, thanks to Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and the Kwankwasiyya movement. However, less than two years into its leadership, the party is struggling with internal issues.

On Monday, the Kano chapter of the NNPP suspended Senator Kawu Sumaila and three members of the House of Representatives:

Aliyu Madaki, Sani Rogo, and Kabiru Rurum. The party’s state chairman, Hashimu Dungurawa, accused them of disloyalty and failing to participate in party events organized by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and Kwankwaso.

Dungurawa claimed that Sumaila’s association with opposition figures showed a lack of commitment to NNPP. He pointed out that Sumaila invited key All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders to his daughter’s wedding while neglecting those who helped him rise in politics.

The suspended lawmakers dismissed the action, calling it an illegitimate decision controlled by Kwankwaso’s faction. In a joint statement, they accused Kwankwaso of turning NNPP into his personal empire and disregarding democratic principles.

Meanwhile, the party’s national leadership also rejected the suspension. National Publicity Secretary Dr. Oginni Olaposi declared it “null and void,” stating that the Kwankwasiyya movement no longer has a formal connection with NNPP after the 2023 elections.

Political analysts believe NNPP’s internal crisis could weaken its chances in the 2027 elections. Analyst Abba Gwale noted that the party is divided into two factions—one led by Dungurawa, backed by the Kano government, and another led by Zarewa.

Despite the crisis, NNPP still enjoys public support due to the Kwankwasiyya movement and its infrastructure projects.

However, the APC remains a strong opposition, leveraging federal backing and key political figures like Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

While it is too early to predict the 2027 elections, APC is actively strategizing. Ganduje recently stated that more NNPP members will soon join APC, signaling possible defections.

Residents like Auwal Sumaila believe the suspension of Kawu Sumaila and other lawmakers will affect NNPP’s future. “Most people are in the party because of Kawu. If he leaves, they will follow him,” he said.

With special advisers resigning and officials defecting to the opposition, NNPP must resolve its internal conflicts quickly. If left unchecked, the crisis could shake the party’s dominance in Kano ahead of 2027.