Court upheld all three grounds of appeal, restoring the earlier judgment and affirming Aniebonam as the undisputed leader of the party he founded in 2001...

A Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri, Imo state southeast Nigeria has delivered a final judgment in the protracted leadership crisis within the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), affirming the leadership of the party’s founder, Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam.

In its ruling, the appellate court set aside an earlier decision of the Abia State High Court in Uzuakoli, which had overturned a prior judgment recognising Aniebonam’s leadership of the party’s Board of Trustees.

The Uzuakoli High Court had in November 2024 ruled in favour of Aniebonam in Suit No. HUZ/11/2024. However, a subsequent motion filed by Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso led to that judgment being set aside in June 2025.

Dissatisfied, the Aniebonam-led faction appealed the decision at the Court of Appeal in Owerri, arguing that the lower court erred by effectively sitting on appeal over its own earlier ruling.

The dispute followed the party’s nomination of Kwankwaso as its presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, after which internal disagreements emerged over the party’s leadership and direction.

Legal representation in the appeal saw Azubike Anazor argue on behalf of Aniebonam, while Eyitayo Fatogun represented Kwankwaso.

Parry officials say the ruling brings an end to years of internal wrangling within the NNPP.