By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The Kaduna State chapter of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has suspended its Chairman, Muhammad Lawal Sultan, for six months over alleged acts of gross misconduct.
In a statement issued on Monday by the party’s Secretary, Dr. Joshua Madaki, and made available to journalists in Kaduna, the State Working Committee (SWC) announced the appointment of Hon. Jumare Tanimu Magaji as Acting Chairman pending the expiration of Sultan’s suspension.
According to the statement, the decision followed a meeting of the SWC, which reviewed Sultan’s leadership conduct and found him in violation of key provisions of the NNPP constitution.
“The suspension is based on relevant provisions of the NNPP constitution that border on gross acts of misconduct, which contravene its guidelines,” the statement read.
Profile of the Acting Chairman
The newly appointed Acting Chairman, Hon. Jumare Tanimu Magaji, brings decades of political experience to the role. He served as a councillor between 1999 and 2002 under the All People’s Party (APP), was a member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly from 2007 to 2009 under the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and contested for a House of Representatives seat on three occasions.
In 2012, he served as an adviser to the Lere Local Government Chairman, and until his new appointment, he was the State Treasurer of the NNPP.
Describing Magaji as a man of principle and integrity, the SWC expressed confidence in his ability to unify the party and advance its interests across Kaduna State and beyond.
“He is a man of principle and proven integrity who believes in inclusiveness and has the conscience of the NNPP at heart. As a unifier, we believe he will use his experience to strengthen and defend the party,” the statement added.
Official Notifications and Warning
The party also disclosed that it has formally notified key stakeholders — including the NNPP National Secretariat, INEC, the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) — of the leadership change.
Dr. Madaki further warned the suspended chairman to desist from parading himself as the Kaduna NNPP Chairman, cautioning party members and the public against conducting any party-related business with him during the suspension period.
“Anyone who engages with him in the name of the party within the six-month period does so at his own risk,” the statement concluded.
