The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Ondo State chapter, has suspended its gubernatorial candidate, Gbenga Edema, for his alleged involvement in anti-party activities as well as violation of the constitution of the party.
Edema, who was the candidate of the party in the recent governorship election in the state, was suspended indefinitely along with his running mate, Rotimi Adeyemi, and the campaign Director-General, Isreal Ayeni.
With the three chieftains of the party suspended during the State Working Committee (SWC) meeting held in Akure, the NNPP chairman in the state, Peter Olagookun, stated that they took the party to court without exploring its internal resolution mechanism.
He said: “We, the State Working 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 emphasised that the SWC also suspended them on three grounds, namely, “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 the internal resolution mechanism as provided by the party’s constitution and involving oneself in anti-party activities.”
Also, 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.
The Ondo Central Senatorial Chairman, Tunde Adejuyigbe, and the Ondo North Senatorial Chairman, Johnson Akpata, said the decision was the best, and the constitution of the party remains supreme, describing the suspension of the three chieftains as the best decision of the SWC.
