NNPP Crisis: Court Affirms Agbo Major’s Leadership

Wale Igbintade

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has issued fresh orders restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or engaging with any faction of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) other than the leadership headed by Dr. Agbo Gilbert Major.

Justice Bello Kawu, sitting at High Court No. 14, Apo, granted the orders on 25 and 27 November 2025 in two separate ex parte applications filed by the NNPP, which accused a rival faction led by Dr. Ajuju Ahmed and several others of attempting to mislead the electoral commission despite existing court judgements affirming the Agbo Major leadership.

In the first ruling delivered on 25 November, the court granted the NNPP leave to apply for judicial review by way of mandamus and held that the leave shall operate as a stay of any contrary or inconsistent action, recognition, or communication by INEC or the respondents concerning the party’s leadership.Justice Kawu also ordered accelerated hearing and abridged timelines for all parties to file their processes, fixing 10 December 2025 for substantive hearing.

A subsequent ruling on 27 November permitted substituted service on 16 respondents via the NNPP National Secretariat in Abuja and further restrained INEC—whether by its officers or departments from monitoring, attending or participating in any congress or convention organised by the factional group until the main suit is determined.The respondents include prominent members of the factional group: Dr. Ajuju Ahmed, Hon. Abba Kawu Ali, Prince Nwaeze Onu, Hon. Aladipo Alayokun, Ladipo Johnson, Arc. Mohammed Abacha, Mustapha Alkassim and others.

Following the court orders, the NNPP’s legal team formally notified the new INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, of the binding directives.

In the letter dated 26 November 2025, the party congratulated the newly appointed chairman and emphasised that the Commission must now ensure strict compliance with judicial orders governing the leadership dispute.

The NNPP reminded the Commission that multiple judgements—including those of the High Court of Abia State (HUZ/11/2024) and the FCT High Court (FCT/HC/CV/5518/2024) had already affirmed the validity of the national convention that produced Dr. Agbo Major, while dismissing attempts by the Ahmed-led faction to seize control of the party.

Despite these judgements, the NNPP alleged that INEC had previously extended recognition and engagement to the factional group, even after an “unauthorised and illegal” letter dated 31 October 2025 was sent to the Commission by Dr. Ajuju Ahmed and Dipo Olayoku, purporting to notify INEC of planned party congresses and a national convention.

The party insisted that the individuals “have no authority, standing or legal relationship” with the NNPP and warned that any attempt by INEC to engage them would amount to wilful disobedience of court orders and a violation of Section 287(3) of the 1999 Constitution.

The letter stressed that no public authority is permitted to place itself above judicial orders or foist a fait accompli upon the courts, citing the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Governor of Lagos State v. Ojukwu.

Kawu’s orders categorically bar INEC from engaging with any faction aside from the Agbo Major-led leadership.

The court also ordered that INEC must not upload, publish, or recognise any party logo, communication, or document originating from the factional respondents pending the determination of the judicial review.

The NNPP was directed to serve all processes on the respondents within five days of the order, while the respondents have five days to file their counter-affidavits. The party may reply within three days thereafter.

The orders represent the latest development in a protracted internal battle for control of the NNPP, a conflict that has spawned multiple litigations across different jurisdictions since 2023.

The letter stated that INEC should as a matter of necessity upload the Dr. Agbo Major Gilbert and Comrade Oginni Olaposi Sunday-led NWC executive of the party in their official website and restore the original logo and colour of the party within 48 hours on receipt of the enrolment order

They maintained that there should not be any vacuum in governance thus keeping the party administration and management alive before the next adjourned date of 10th December 2025