A faction of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) has rejected the outcome of a recent convention reportedly held in Abuja, describing it as a “sham” and accusing a rival group of attempting to hijack the party for elite interests ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Addressing a press conference in Kano on Monday, the faction, operating under the PRP-Vanguard Collective, faulted the emergence of a new national chairman by what it called the “Falalu faction,” insisting that the exercise contravened the party’s constitution and ideological foundation.

The group’s National Chairman, Comrade Abdulmajid Yakubu Daudu, specifically criticised Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, whom he claimed was never a member of the PRP but is now “purporting to preside over its affairs.”

He alleged that the new leadership had begun courting “discredited politicians” from other opposition platforms, a move he described as a betrayal of the party’s socialist orientation.

“The PRP is not for sale to the highest bidder,” Daudu said. “It is a party of the working class, progressive intellectuals and the toiling masses, not a refuge for failed politicians seeking relevance.”

The faction further accused what it termed the “Kaduna mafia” of attempting to dominate the party structure, alleging that the group represents entrenched elite interests rather than the grassroots base historically associated with the PRP.

According to Daudu, the party remains committed to its founding ideals rooted in the philosophy of the late Aminu Kano, who championed the cause of the ‘talakawa’ (common people).

He said the PRP-Vanguard would continue to challenge the legitimacy of the Abuja convention in court while mobilising support across the country.

The faction also dismissed calls for reconciliation within the party, questioning the basis for unity amid what it described as “illegality and ideological compromise.”

It warned against turning the PRP into a “personal fiefdom,” alleging that some actors were more interested in financial gains and political patronage than in building a viable grassroots movement.

The group used the occasion to criticise Nigeria’s prevailing political and economic system, describing it as a “neocolonial capitalist order” that has failed the masses since independence.

It also took a swipe at the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing it of worsening poverty and economic hardship.

“The struggle to rescue the PRP from elite capture is part of the broader fight to liberate Nigeria from exploitation,” Daudu said.

He reaffirmed the faction’s commitment to pursuing its cause through legal action, grassroots mobilisation and public engagement, insisting that the PRP remains “Jam’iyyar talakawa” and not a platform for the ruling class. (Daily Trust)