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).