Factional Chairman of the New Nigeria People’s Party in Kano, Senator Jibrin Doguwa, has dismissed the expulsion of Abdulmumin Jibrin from the party, describing it as an “illegal act” carried out without legitimacy.

Doguwa stated this in an exclusive interview with Saturday PUNCH barely hours after a rival faction loyal to former governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, announced the lawmaker’s removal.

The chairman of the Kwankwasiyya-led faction, Hashim Dungurawa, had earlier accused Jibrin of anti-party activities and failure to pay mandatory dues.

But Doguwa, speaking with PUNCH, insisted that the decision was null and void.

“I am the legitimate chairman of the party. This decision was made without our consent, so it has no effect,” he said.

The factional leader defended Jibrin’s recent controversial television interview, saying the lawmaker never acted against the party’s interest.

“What Kofa said was not anti-party. Every politician has the right to move from one platform to another. Even President Bola Tinubu changed parties before becoming who he is today,” Doguwa argued.

He accused Dungurawa of overreaching his powers and threatened legal action if the faction continued to expul the party’s stalwarts.

“If Dungurawa does not stop this illegality, we will meet him in court,” Doguwa warned.

The development highlights deepening cracks within the NNPP, which has been engulfed in leadership tussles since the 2023 elections.

Jibrin, a former APC chieftain and Director-General of the Tinubu Support Groups, defected to the NNPP in 2022 under the Kwankwasiyya banner. Recently, however, he hinted that he might leave the party, fueling speculation about his next political move.