Lagos: The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) announced it has shelved its planned protest against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), warning that the demonstration risked being hijacked by hoodlums and political rivals to foment disorder.
Recall that the party on Jan. 10 announced that it would be holding a peaceful protest in Abuja on Tuesday, Jan. 20, to press home its agitation for INEC to upload the authentic executives of the party, led by Dr Agbo Major.
In a statement signed by its Founder and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, the NNPP said that, despite its determination to get INEC to comply with Court orders regarding the authentic leadership of the party, it realised that this should not be at the expense of Nigeria.
“We are law-abiding citizens, and our quest for justice will always respect the peace and unity of Nigeria.
“We are pained by the refusal of INEC to do what is right, but we still believe in towing the rightful lane in achieving it.
“As law-abiding citizens of Nigeria, we have no alternative but to put off the protest for the peace of our country. It shall be the duty of every Nigerian to support the present administration to achieve the desired peace of the society.”
The party urged its members to remain calm, assuring them that their grievances would be resolved soon.
It lamented that INEC had continued to disregard court orders directing it to recognise the Major-led authentic leadership of the party.
“It is already in public space that the Abia High Court and the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, directed INEC to stop dealing with the Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso-led group, pending the outcome of the ongoing judicial review.
The consequences of disobedience to court orders may be slow, but they will surely come to pass.
“The issue is not about a leadership crisis but the termination of the Memorandum of Understanding between the NNPP and the Kwankwasiya Movement.
We approached the FCT High Court for a review, as INEC was unduly delaying the process of updating its records to reflect court judgments.
“We hope that these issues will be resolved soon and that justice shall prevail.”
