Tension is mounting within the Kano State political landscape following a strong demand by the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) for the immediate recovery of its official vehicles allegedly retained by some former party officials who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The controversy centres on several vehicles said to have been donated to the NNPP by Senator Rufai Hanga to strengthen the party’s operational capacity across local government areas in Kano State.
Party leaders insist the vehicles were strictly meant for official assignments, including grassroots mobilisation, logistics for meetings, and coordination of party activities at the local level.
In a statement issued by the NNPP’s Kano State Publicity Secretary, Engr. Ibrahim Karaye, the party expressed serious concern over reports that some former local government chairmen who left the NNPP were still holding on to the vehicles despite their defection.
According to him, the situation has raised questions about accountability and respect for party property.
Karaye clarified that the NNPP vehicles were never intended to serve as personal benefits or political rewards for individuals.
Instead, he explained that the donation was made to the party as an institution, with clear expectations that the assets would be used solely for advancing party programmes and strengthening its presence at the grassroots.
“The vehicles belong to the NNPP, not to any former official,” Karaye stated.
“They were provided to support party logistics within specific local government areas and must be returned now that those individuals are no longer members of the party.”
The party spokesman described the continued possession of the vehicles by defectors as a breach of trust and an act that undermines internal party discipline.
He warned that allowing such actions to go unchecked could set a dangerous precedent where public political assets are treated as personal property.
Beyond moral concerns, the NNPP leadership views the matter as a legal issue. Karaye revealed that the party is prepared to explore all lawful options, including legal action, to retrieve its assets if affected individuals fail to comply with the directive.
According to him, unlawful retention of party property will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
The NNPP vehicles dispute has also reignited conversations about political defections in Nigeria and the treatment of party-owned resources during such transitions.
Political analysts note that while defections are common, disputes over shared assets often expose deeper cracks within party structures and raise concerns about transparency.
Karaye disclosed that the NNPP leadership has already begun an internal audit aimed at identifying all party-owned equipment currently outside official custody.
He said this move is part of broader efforts to safeguard party resources and ensure that they are properly deployed for legitimate activities.
“The party cannot afford to lose working tools at a time when strengthening grassroots engagement is critical,” he noted, adding that recovering the vehicles would help reposition the NNPP for effective political mobilisation across Kano State.
He further warned that any refusal to return the vehicles would be interpreted as deliberate sabotage of the party’s operations. Such actions, he said, could attract both legal and political consequences for those involved.
Despite the controversy, the NNPP leadership appealed for calm among its supporters. Karaye urged party members to avoid confrontation or self-help, assuring them that the leadership is handling the matter through appropriate and lawful channels.
Observers believe the outcome of the NNPP vehicles dispute could influence how political parties in the state manage assets and handle defections going forward.
For the NNPP, the issue goes beyond vehicles; it is a test of authority, internal order, and the party’s ability to protect its institutional integrity.
As the situation unfolds, attention remains fixed on whether the former officials will comply with the directive or whether the matter will escalate into a legal battle.
What is clear, however, is that the NNPP leadership is determined to reclaim what it considers its rightful property and send a strong message about discipline and accountability within its ranks.
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