The Borno state chairman of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP Mohammed Mustafa has accused the Borno state government of sealing its state secretariat.
The development many say is a serious setback for Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso, the NNPP presidential candidate in next year’s election as he tries to galvanise support for his presidential election.
The alleged act of the Governor Babagana Zulum state government, according to those watching what is happening in the state is clear intimidation of opponents as the ruling APC tries to consolidate power in 2023.
The party’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu is understood to be in a three-horse race with Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi of the PDP and Labour Party, respectively.
Kwakwanso had dumped the PDP earlier this year to pursue his presidential ambition in the NNPP, despite pessimism among not a few Nigerians that he’s not a strong contender in next year’s presidential election, though others also believe that he poses a serious threat to frontline presidential candidates.
The former governor of Kano state has been visiting states in the north as part of his ongoing consultations to achieve his presidential bid.
It is, therefore, a surprise that the state government shut down the party’s secretariat, the NNPP chair in the state said.
According to him, “Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso, our presidential candidate, is expected to visit Maiduguri on Saturday, but we woke up today (Thursday) to see Policemen with Armoured Personnel Carrier stationed in front of our secretariat.
“The Policemen have prevented party members from going in. The party occupied this secretariat three months ago and it was expected to be formally inaugurated by our presidential candidate on Saturday.
“He was also expected to hold a meeting with party stakeholders in the state there.”
