By Sunday Isuwa, Abuja
The governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Benue State in the 2023 general election and former national legal adviser of the party, Prof Bem Angwe has withdrawn his membership of the party.
This is coming ahead of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting slated for Tuesday this week.
Meanwhile, another group of the party is set to hold a NEC meeting today in Lagos.
The NNPP has been enmeshed into a crisis that had led to the suspension of the Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman, Dr. Boniface Aneibonam and the party’s national publicity secretary, Dr. Agbo Major.
Major has described his suspension and that of the BoT chairman as a Nollywood show.
However, Angwe made his withdrawal known in a letter addressed to the ward chairman of Mbatyu NNPP in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State.
In a statement, Angwe listed the reasons for his dumping the party chief of which was the crisis and the confusion that engulfed the party.
“Bearing in mind the brazen disregard by some persons in the Party to the well outlined rules and regulations, enshrined in the Constitution of the Party, governing the conduct of the affairs of the party;
“Taking cognizance of the fact that the current development in the Party is not conducive nor healthy for my continued stay in, and membership of the Party.”
“Desirous of resuming my professional academic activities and my full involvement in the protection and enhancement of human rights in Nigeria as we strive to build a strong and better Nigerian nation based on the principles of freedom, Equality and justice;
“In compliance with the resolution of the Elders and Stakeholders of the party in my immediate community in Benue State and their further advice that I should accordingly withdraw my membership of the party;
“And in accordance with the NNPP Constitution 2022 (as amended), I, on this day of 26th August, 2023, withdrew my membership of the NNPP.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I have communicated the notice of my NNPP membership withdrawal to the party Chairman of the Mbatyu NNPP Ward Executive Committee in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State.
“I wish to express my special appreciation to my Ward, LGA and State party Executive members, other party members, supporters and all my well-wishers throughout Benue State and Nigeria as a whole for the great support they accorded me while I was in the party and during my Governorship campaigns as a Gubernatorial Candidate on the platform of the party.
“I salute the courage and commitment of all those who believed in me and who made extra efforts in taking a walk with me to the end during this very difficult period. I wholeheartedly assure them that I shall at all times carry them along in my future endeavors.
“I therefore enjoin all my supporters and well-wishers to remain calm and resolute while awaiting future developments which I shall communicate to them in due course.”