NNPP Suspends Gov Candidate, Edema, Others Over Petition Against Gov Aiyedatiwa

By Ayodele Oni

The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), has suspended, indefinitely, its Ondo State Governorship Candidate, Olugbenga Edema, and Rotimi Adeyemi, Deputy Governorship Candidate in the November 16, 2024 election in the State.

The party also suspended one of the Chieftains in the State, Isreal Oluwatosin Ayeni.

The three top notchers were suspended during the State Working Committee meeting held in Akure on Monday.

Announcing the decision to newsmen at the party’s Secretariat in Akure, the State Chairman of NNPP, Peter Olagookun, said the Governorship Candidate, his running mate and Ayeni were sanctioned for violating the Party’s ’s constitution and alleged anti-party activities.

He said, “We, the State Worting Committee Of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) Ondo State Chapter hereby announce 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.”

Olagookun explained that the SWC also suspended them on three grounds namely; “suing 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 anti-party’s activities.”

The State Secretary of the party,  Adekunle Oluwayomi said the Party ’s constitution must be respected, saying nobody would be allowed to use the party’s name recklessly.

The Ondo Central senatorial Chairman, Dr Tunde Adejuyigbe and the Ondo North Senatorial Chairman, Akpata Johnson said the decision was the best and the constitution of the party remains supreme, describing the suspension of the three chieftains as long overdue decision of the SWC under Olagookun.

Edema and others had approached the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal handling cases related to the November election, filed petition against the victory of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, his Deputy, Mr Adelami and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for their victory in the election.

The leadership of the party later came out to disown the petition and withdrew it from the tribunal.