Ondo 2024: Confusion in NNPP as another candidate emerges
Ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State, there is confusion among the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) members in the State, as another candidate emerged.
The new candidate and his deputy, who have flooded Akure streets with posters, are Akintan Michael, and Mrs. Kemi Fasua, respectively.
However, the party in swift reaction petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing Akintan of impersonating the governorship candidate of the party, Gbenga Edema, and his running mate, Rotimi Adeyemi.
In a letter addressed to INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, NNPP called for legal action against the ‘impersonators.’
According to the party: “We wish to bring to the attention of your good office a case of impersonation of the NNPP Governorship and Deputy Governorship Candidates in the forthcoming off-cycle on November 16, 2024.
“The culprits are Engr. Akintan Michael and Mrs. Kemi Fasua, purporting to be the NNPP Governorship Candidate and Deputy Governorship Candidate of the NNPP, both of whom are unknown to the party.
“You would recall, sir, that we informed your good office of our Ondo State Governorship Primary fixed for Friday, April 26, 2024, via a letter NNPP/HQRTS/INEC/ 024/23 dated March 7, 2024.
“At the said primary, monitored by officials of the INEC, Mr. Ayeni Oluwatosin Israel emerged as the NNPP governorship candidate, and he later picked Mrs. Omoyugbo Abike Abigail as his running mate, and the two names were published by INEC.
“However, due to what they called “personal reasons,” the two of them withdrew their candidature, which prompted the NNPP to schedule a fresh primary to elect a replacement on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at Solton Hotel, Ijapo Estate, Akure, Ondo State via our letter NNPP/HQRTS/INEC/024/54.
“The fresh primary was monitored by INEC officials, where Barr. Gbenga Omogbemi Edema emerged as the new governorship candidate of the NNPP, and he later picked Barr. Rotimi Emmanuel Adeyemi as his running mate.
“These two names were later published by your good office in the Final List of Governorship Candidates and their Deputies on Friday, June 14, 2024.
“However, to our chagrin, our attention was recently drawn to one Engr. Akintan Michael pasting posters, all claiming to be the governorship candidate of our party in Ondo State, and one Mrs. Kemi Fasua as his running mate.
“Mr. Chairman, sir, without doubt, this is a clear case of impersonation, as there was never a time the said Engr. Akintan Michael purchased our Letter of Intent/Nomination form not to talk of contesting in our primary.
“We therefore wish to submit that this is a clear case of impersonation and a breach of the electoral law. It is our belief that such an act should not be handled with kid gloves, and it deserves serious attention and action by the INEC to serve as a deterrent to those whose objective is to truncate the forthcoming governorship election and indeed the peace of Ondo State.
“We hope the INEC, under your able leadership, will subject these two Engr. Akintan Makinde and Mrs. Kemi Fasua to the full process of law, in line with the Electoral Act and other statutory laws of the land.”