Former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has declared that his party will closely monitor the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.
Kwankwaso said the role of INEC remains central to the survival of democracy in the country, stressing that public trust in elections depends largely on how the commission conducts its duties.
He spoke in Abuja on Saturday during the NNPP national convention, shortly after the party’s newly re-elected executives were sworn in.
The event was attended by INEC officials, party leaders, and delegates drawn from different parts of the country.
While addressing the gathering, the NNPP national leader acknowledged the presence of INEC representatives and congratulated the commission on the appointment of its new national chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan.
“I want to say so far so good, we are keeping our eyes on INEC because its job is so critical that it can make or mar democracy in this country,” Kwankwaso said.
He added that the NNPP expects a more productive relationship with the electoral body, while assuring party members that the leadership would continue working to strengthen the party ahead of future elections.
Kwankwaso also expressed appreciation to party supporters who travelled long distances for the convention and commended Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, for his consistent backing of the NNPP.
The convention ratified resolutions reached by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and formally confirmed members of the National Working Committee (NWC).
It comes as the NNPP steps up early preparations for the 2027 polls, following its improved showing in the 2023 general election.
In 2023, the party gained national attention after winning the Kano State governorship and recording strong results in parts of the North-West. Kwankwaso finished fourth in the presidential race but dominated voting in Kano State.
However, the election period was marked by widespread criticism of INEC, particularly over the performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and delays in uploading results to the iReV portal. These issues triggered legal battles and renewed calls for electoral reforms.
NNPP leaders at the convention said those experiences would shape the party’s approach as 2027 approaches.
