According to the report from the Vanguard, The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has raised concerns over alleged impersonation of its governorship candidate in Ondo State, Hon. Gbenga Edema, and his running mate, Barr. Rotimi Adeyemi, in the upcoming November 16 election.
In a petition addressed to the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, the NNPP national secretariat called for swift legal action against the individuals impersonating the candidates.
The National Chairman of the NNPP, Ajuji Ahmed, and the National Secretary, Dipo Olayoku, identified the impersonators as Engr. Akintan Michael and Mrs. Kemi Fasua. They described the situation as “a clear breach of the 2022 electoral act.”
The NNPP leaders explained that INEC was duly notified of the emergence of Edema and Adeyemi as the party’s standard-bearers during a substituted primary held on June 5, 2024, at Solton Hotel, Ijapo Estate, Akure, following the withdrawal of Oluwatosin Ayeni and Abigail Omoyugbo for “personal reasons.”
The party emphasized that the candidature of Edema and Adeyemi was legally recognized, with their names and credentials published by INEC as the party’s official candidates.
The petition stated, “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,” the petition continued.
The party reiterated that it had informed INEC of its Ondo State Governorship Primary scheduled for April 26, 2024, via a letter dated March 7, 2024. At the primary, monitored by INEC officials, Mr. Ayeni Oluwatosin Israel emerged as the NNPP governorship candidate, later picking Mrs. Omoyugbo Abike Abigail as his running mate. However, due to personal reasons, both candidates withdrew their candidatures, prompting the NNPP to schedule a fresh primary on June 5, 2024.
At this primary, Barr. Gbenga Omogbemi Edema emerged as the new governorship candidate, with Barr. Rotimi Emmanuel Adeyemi as his running mate. Their names were subsequently published by INEC in the final list of governorship candidates and their deputies on June 14, 2024.
The petition highlighted the party’s concern, stating, “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.”
“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,” the petition asserted.
The NNPP called for serious attention and action by INEC to address this impersonation and serve as a deterrent to those attempting to disrupt the forthcoming governorship election and the peace of Ondo State……Discover More
The petition concluded, “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……Discover More
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