Kaduna 2023: Emergence of Hunkuyi Has Brought Disunity In NNPP - Zakari

The New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP) candidate of House of Assembly for Chukun Constituency in Kaduna State, Najib Zakari has said that the party's guber candidate, Suleiman Hunkuyi has brought chaos in the party. 

Zakiri made this known on Sunday alongside other stakeholders of the party while protesting at the state party secretariat.

The stakeholders called for the substitution of the state governorship candidate,Hunkuyi alleging that he lacked the capacity to deliver the state for the NNPP in 2023 general election.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Zakari said: “The emergence of Hunkuyi has brought disunity among the state party executives, local government executives and other candidates.

“Many people believed that he lacked the popularity needed for the party to win the 2023 election, some of us feel that he is trying to trade the party with other political parties. 

"Many people had wanted to join the party, but declined because of him.

“As far as I’m concerned, his candidature will negatively affect our chances at all levels in the state including the presidential election.

“If there is an opportunity to substitute him, it should be done so quickly."

Also speaking, the NNPP Women Leader for Sabon Gari Local Government Area of the state, Habiba Abdullahi Dogarawa said Hunkuyi lacks the ability to carry everyone along. 

“This is a politics, although I wouldn’t want to blame Hunkuyi entirely, I believe there are some party officials working with him to destroy the party.

“I think the major problem is his inability to carry the party officials along.

"I think substituting him is the best option for peace and progress of the party, it should be done."

Dogarawa added that the only way was to drop Hunkuyi as the party's gubernatorial candidate for the state and pick another candidate ahead of the 2023 election. 

Another chieftain of the party identified as Magaji Kurmin-Mashi called for the national leadership of the party to intervene in the issue.

He added that substituting Hunkuyi for a more popular candidate was the only way to win the poll. 

Kurmin-Mashi who is also the secretary of the state NNPP stakeholders forum said: “I think that Hunkuyi is popular and experienced but his unforgiving attitude is a major weakness.

“I am afraid when we go out for election, this attitude will affect NNPP, please convince him to step aside so that the party will prosper."

While the state NNPP chairman, Ben Kure confirmed that there was some disagreement among the state party executives, Buba Galadima, a chieftain of the party, said that the NNPP has no crises in the state.

“To the best of my knowledge there is no protest in Kaduna and the party’s activities are on course to winning the state 2023 governorship election.

“Anybody that has complain should follow due process, after all it is party affairs, whether you like Hunkuyi or not, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recognised him as the party’s governorship candidate for 2023 poll.

“INEC has also closed the window for candidate’s substitution for 2023 except in case of court ruling, voluntary resignation or death,” Galadima said.