NNPP suspends Ondo gov candidate, two others indefinitely

The Ondo State chapter of the New Nigeria People’s Party has suspended its governorship candidate in the November 16 election, Olugbenga Edema, and his running mate, Rotimi Adeyemi, over alleged violations of the party’s constitution.

The party also suspended a chieftain, Israel Ayeni, citing similar allegations.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by 12 members of the State Working Committee, led by the chairman, Peter Olagookun, and made available to PUNCH Online on Tuesday.

According to the statement, the trio were suspended during the State Working Committee meeting held in Akure on Monday.

The statement read, “We, the State Working Committee of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Ondo State chapter hereby announced the suspension indefinitely of the following party members:

“Hon. Olugbenga Edema, the Governorship Candidate in the just concluded Ondo State Governorship Election, Barrister Rotimi Adeyemi; the Deputy Governorship Candidate and Mr. Isreal Oluwatosin Ayeni.”

The party explained that the SWC suspended the chieftains on three grounds of “using in the name of the party without recourse to the appropriate stakeholders in both the state and national level according to our party constitution, suing the party without exhausting internal resolution mechanism as provided by the party’s constitution; and involving in antiparty’s activities.”

Commenting on the development, the state Secretary of the party, Comrade Adekunle Oluwayomi, said the party’s constitution must be respected, saying “Nobody would be allowed to use the party’s name recklessly.”

In his reaction, however, Edema said he was unaware of the action of the party against him.

“I am not aware of any suspension and if they alleged that I violated the party’s constitution, which panel have they asked me to face for the sake of fair hearing? Secondly, the state can’t suspend me; it is the ward that has the power to suspend me. I know it is because of my case in court against Governor Aiyedatiwa that they are doing this but all of them will fail.

“As far as I’m concerned, nobody suspends me and I am still a bonafide member of the NNPP,” Edema stated.

Edema’s case at the Federal High Court seeks to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission to remove Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his running mate, Olayide Adelami, from the list of candidates who contested the election.

Edema also asked the court to interpret the application of Section 15 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) over the nomination of the APC candidate.

The defendants in the suit are the INEC, the APC, Aiyedatiwa and his running mate Adelami.