The National Executive Committee of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has expelled its presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso over anti-party activities.

This is coming few days after the factional leaders vowed to probe Senator Rabiu and some of his loyalists over alleged misappropriation of over N1 billion, generated from the sale of nomination forms.

The Acting National Publicity Secretary of NNPP, Abdulsalam Abdulrasaq in a statement on Tuesday said the decision to expel the former Kano governor with immediate effect was taken after he failed to appear before the disciplinary panel to defend himself over the allegations of “gross anti-party activities and mismanagement of party campaign funds within five days.”

Abdulrasaq said: “The NEC met in an emergency session on Friday, September 1, and resolved that following the refusal of Senator 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 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.”

Reacting to the news, National Auditor of NNPP and an ally of Kwankwaso, Ladipo Johnson, frowned at the report.

Johnson said, “Expel who? These people are no longer our people. They are out of the party and cannot speak on behalf of the party. Let them form their own party or go to court. It is as simple as that. There are so many important things to worry about in this country.

“How can they expel Kwankwaso? Someone whose relationship with the National Working Committee is intact here at the national headquarters in Abuja? We will soon be having a press conference to address this matter.”