A fresh crisis has engulfed the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) with the suspension of its governorship candidate in the November 16 off-cycle governorship election in Ondo state, Olugbenga Edema.

Mr Edema was suspended on Monday along with his running mate, Rotimi Adeyemi, and another party chieftain, Israel Ayeni, over alleged anti-party activities.

The three men were suspended from the party at a meeting of the State Working Committee (SWC) held in Akure, the state capital.

Announcing their suspension during a press conference, the state chairman of the NNPP, Peter Olagookun, said Mr Edema and the other party chieftains were sanctioned for alleged anti-party activities.

Flanked by 12 other members of the SWC, Mr Olagookun said the men were also suspended for violating the party’s constitution.

“We, the State Working Committee of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) Ondo State Chapter, hereby announce the indefinite suspension 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,” he said.

The chairman added that the trio were suspended on two other grounds: “suing in the name of the party without recourse to the appropriate stakeholders at both the state and national levels, according to our party constitution.

“Suing the party without exhausting internal resolution mechanisms as provided by the party’s constitution, and involving in anti-party activities.”

Peoples Gazette could not immediately get Mr Edema’s reaction as of the time of this report.

However, one of his aides, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak, said his principal would respond appropriately to the suspension.

“We have read the suspension letter, but Oga (Edema) will react to it when he’s ready. I’m sure those who claimed they suspended him are just jesters. He gave NNPP a name in the state. How many people knew the party in the state before the election?” he told the Gazette.

Mr Edema lost the governorship election to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Dr. Olajide Adediran, popularly known as JANDOR, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The 2023 Lagos governorship candidate made the announcement on Monday during a press conference in Ikeja, Lagos.

While he did not disclose his next political move, JANDOR assured that he would make his intentions known in the coming months.

His departure from the PDP comes with the backing of his supporters across the 20 local governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of Lagos State.

Details to follow…

… Assembly insists on no account should Rivers people suffer

The Rivers State House of Assembly has given embattled Governor Siminalayi Fubara 48 hours to present the 2025 budget to the House.

Also, Fubara was encouraged to act fast and do the needful to stop unnecessary suffering by Rivers people over the stoppage of federal allocations to the state.

See details below:
The Rivers House of Assembly on the 3rd day of March 2025, amongst other matters deliberated on Judgements of
the Supreme Court in Suits numbers- SC/Cy/1174/2024 and sC/CV/1105/2024 delivered on the 28h day of
February 2025 and resolved as follows:

“That pursuant to the order of the Supreme Court in Suit no.: sc/CV/1174/2024 for the stoppage of
Statutory Federal allocations to the Rivers State Government and haltíng of spending from the
Consolidated Revenue Fund of Rivers State pending the passage of an Appropriation Bill, you are
requested to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the House in line with the provisions of the 1999
Constitution as amended.

“That the House expects you to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill within 48 hours.

“That since the Supreme Court in the judgement delivered in Suit no.: SC/CV/1105/20
0/2024 nullified the
Rivers State Local Government Elections of 5th October 2024 for non-compliance with the
Electoral Act among other reasons, the House would soon commence the process of amending the
Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018 and the Rivers State Independent Electoral
Commission Law No. 2 of 2018 so that they can be in tandem with the Electoral Act and pave the way
for the commencement of plans for fresh Local Government elections in the State.

That your attention should be drawn to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended; the Rivers
State Local Government (Amendment) Law, 2023 as well as the Judgement of the Supreme Court in
Suit No.: Sc/cv/343/2024 that prohibits the administration of Local Governments by HLGA’S or any
other persons other than democratically elected officials.

That the House would proceed on a 12- week recess as from Friday 7th March 2025 but Standing
Committees would be expected to continue statutory functions.

“Please be informed that our resolutions are geared towards a quick fix to the current financial quagmire
occasioned by the absence of an Appropriatíon Law for Rivers State.

“We do not want Rivers State people to
suffer.

“We, therefore, urge you to act fast and do the needful in the best interest of the good people of Rivers
State.