A member of the House of Representatives elected on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Aliyu Sani Madakin Gini, has come under intense scrutiny after he was reportedly seen at an All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders’ meeting in his Dala Constituency in Kano State.

In a post that gained traction online, Sunusi Danjuma Ali, questioned the propriety of Madakin Gini’s attendance at what he described as an APC caucus meeting, given his status as a member of the NNPP.

“While he claims to be a member of the NNPP, he was seen attending an APC caucus meeting in his constituency today. I am writing to formally bring this development to your notice,” he wrote, quoting the X handle of the Speaker.

He added that if the lawmaker had indeed aligned himself with the ruling APC, he should relinquish his position as Deputy Minority Leader in the interest of fairness and parliamentary ethics.

The development has generated mixed reactions on social media, with many users questioning whether a principal minority officer should attend a meeting of the majority party.

One user, Abba Ali, expressed scepticism that any disciplinary action would follow. “He is close to the Speaker, so I doubt they’ll do anything about it. But let’s be real, history will remember this, and future generations will know exactly what went down,” he wrote.

Another commentator, Kanoblog, suggested that political calculations could be driving the situation. “It is clear that he is afraid of losing the allowances he currently enjoys as the Deputy Minority Leader, which is why he will not openly declare his exit from the NNPP until close to the elections, when public attention will be fully focused on the polls. This is calculated,” the post read.

Similarly, a user identified as Xaulord described the matter as a legitimate concern, arguing that minority leadership positions must reflect clear opposition alignment.

“Minority leadership positions should reflect clear opposition alignment. If Hon. Aliyu has indeed joined the APC, stepping down would be the right and ethical thing to do,” the user wrote.

As of the time of filing this report, efforts to reach Madakin Gini for comment were unsuccessful. His phone line was unreachable and a text message sent to him had not been responded to.

NNPP seeks removal from minority leadership

The spokesperson of the NNPP in Kano State, Engr Ibrahim Abdullahi Karaye, described the lawmaker’s action as unpatriotic and dishonest, insisting that the party had not received any formal communication from him regarding a defection.

“He has not written to us officially whether he is still with the NNPP or not. What he did was unpatriotic and dishonest to himself and the party,” Karaye said.

He alleged that the lawmaker was attempting to retain his position as Deputy Minority Leader for strategic reasons.

“Of course, he wants to remain Deputy Minority Leader, and that is why he is playing like this. He wants to remain there until the budget of next year. When he gets what he wants from the privileges, he will now officially decamp,” he said.

Karaye, however, noted that the party would, within days, formally address the matter and articulate its official position on developments within its ranks.

In a follow up statement, Karaye described it as anti-party activities.

Signed by Karaye, the statement alleged that the lawmaker attended a local APC caucus meeting in Dala alongside key stakeholders, an action it said contravened the party’s constitution since he had not formally resigned from the NNPP.

“The New Nigeria Peoples Party, Kano State chapter, is urging the leadership of the National Assembly to replace Hon. Aliyu Sani Madaki with a more committed NNPP member to safeguard the minority’s interests,” the statement said.

The party further warned that allowing such conduct to go unchecked could weaken opposition ranks and aid what it described as attempts by the APC to entrench a one-party state.

Factional chairman offers context

However, the factional state chairman of the NNPP, basket-and-fruits faction, Alhaji Jibrin El-Mas’ud Doguwa, offered a more nuanced explanation of the circumstances surrounding the lawmaker’s attendance at the APC meeting.

Doguwa said he initially sought to verify the facts before drawing conclusions.

According to him, information available to the faction suggested that Madakin Gini’s presence was linked to internal realignments within the Kwankwasiyya political movement rather than a formal defection to the APC.

He explained that the recent split within the Kwankwasiyya movement into factions loyal to Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and to Kwankwaso had altered political calculations in the state.

“When Kwankwasiyya split into two group, members of Abba’s group, who have shared a lot in common with Aliyu Madakin Gini, decided to approach him so that he could feel free to join them, especially now that they are no longer with Kwankwaso,” he said.

Doguwa added that Madakin Gini’s relationship with Governor Yusuf had remained cordial even during periods of tension between the governor and the Kwankwaso camp.

“In general, it was members of the Kwankwasiyya group and APC stakeholders in the local government who believe there is a political future for Aliyu Madakin Gini that invited him to be part of them in APC. That, I believe, is what actually happened,” he said.

Nonetheless, Doguwa admitted he was uncomfortable with the optics of the situation, describing it as symptomatic of deeper internal crises within the NNPP.

Efforts to obtain the reaction of the APC in Kano were unsuccessful, as the state secretary, Ibrahim Zakari Sarina, and the public relations officer, Ahmed Aruwa, could not be reached for comment.

Analysts weigh implications

Meanwhile, political analysts say the controversy underscores the delicate balance minority lawmakers must maintain, particularly those occupying principal offices in the National Assembly.

Professor Kamilu Sani Fage, a political scientist, described Madakin Gini’s situation as a dilemma that could deepen depending on his next move.

“What this shows clearly is that he is in a dilemma, and the dilemma will become more pronounced the moment he announces his real position,” Fage said.

He noted that Madakin Gini’s continued stay as Deputy Minority Leader is directly tied to his membership of an opposition party.

“If he remains in the NNPP, he can still retain his position as Deputy Minority Leader because the NNPP is a minority party in the House. But the moment he joins the APC, which is the majority party, he will have to vacate that seat because it is constitutionally meant for a minority party,” he said.

Another analyst, Dr Kabiru Sufi, argued that the factionalisation of the NNPP at the national level may have provided the lawmaker with political cover.

“I think his dilemma is partly created by the fact that the NNPP is factionalised at the national level. He can still claim allegiance to one of the factions, depending on which one is eventually recognised by the courts and INEC,” Sufi said.

According to him, unresolved leadership tussles within the party may have enabled Madakin Gini to retain his minority leadership role while navigating shifting political alliances.

“The position of Deputy Minority Leader is an advantage he may want to continue to exploit for now. Once full-scale politicking begins and campaigns take centre stage, that position may no longer matter much, as parties will be more focused on election activities,” he said.

Sufi added that although the lawmaker has not formally declared for the APC, his recent public engagements have fuelled perceptions of a gradual political shift.

“Officially, he may still be in the NNPP, but politically, his body language suggests a growing distance from the Kwankwasiyya movement. His appearance at an APC meeting has raised legitimate questions about where he truly belongs,” he said. (Daily Trust)