Following his refusal to appear before its disciplinary committee, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has expelled its 2023 presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

NNPP’s National Executive Committee said Kwankwaso’s expulsion takes immediate effect.

Abdulsalam Abdulrasaq, the acting National Publicity Secretary of the NNPP, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos.

The NNPP suspended Kwankwaso during its National Convention on August 29 in Lagos over gross anti-party activities and mismanagement of campaign funds.

Following his suspension, the party’s National Executive Council set up a disciplinary committee, which invited Kwankwaso with the caveat that he would be expelled if he failed to appear and defend himself.

Abdulrasaq, in a statement, said: “The NEC met in an emergency session on Friday, September 1, and resolved as follows:

“Following the refusal of Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to appear before the disciplinary committee, which sat on Thursday, August 31, after being duly invited in writing, he is hereby expelled from the NNPP with immediate effect.

“That the erstwhile presidential candidate, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, will be reported to appropriate quarters to answer questions on financial impropriety relating to mismanagement of public funds.”

The Daily Post reports that the NNPP’s crisis began on August 24, when the party’s leadership loyal to Kwankwaso announced the suspension of the party’s founder, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, and the National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Agbo Major.