A crisis has erupted in the New Nigeria People’s Party in Ondo state over the replacement of its governorship candidate on the Independent National Electoral Commission portal.
The Acting National Secretary of the party, Comrade Ogini Olaposi Sunday, stated in Akure, the state capital, that the replacement of the candidate who emerged at the governorship primary by Kwankwaso’s followers was unacceptable to the party.
He said, “The leadership of NNPP in the Southwest secured the consent of the founder of NNPP, Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam to file a suit at the Federal High Court, Akure to compel INEC to update the name of Engr. Akintan Michael and Chief Mrs. Kemi Fasua as the governorship and deputy governorship candidate of the party for the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State.”
Ogini declared that Engineer Akintan Michael is the party’s governorship candidate, while Chief Mrs. Kemi Fasua is the deputy governorship candidate. He described Kwankwaso’s loyalists as fake members of the party, stating that Kwankwaso had ceased to be a member of NNPP.
He stated, “The national leadership of NNPP shall also pursue to a logical conclusion another suit filed at the Ondo State High Court, Akure against Mr. Gbenga Edema who was illegally nominated and fielded by the illegal Kwankwasian group of expelled Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso against the constitution of Federal Republic and Electoral Act.”
Ogini emphasized that Gbenga Edema was never a member of NNPP, stating, “Gbenga Edema was never a member of NNPP and that the best we know of him is that he is a bonafide member of All Progressives Congress and also a governorship aspirant in APC. Therefore, it is for any lawless group to make him a candidate of a constitutional political party like NNPP.”
He concluded, “The Southwest leaders hereby agreed with the National leadership of NNPP that Mr. Gbenga Edema is unknown to the party and therefore declared persona non grata in our party.”
