Ogun tribunal: NNPP withdraws petition against Gov. Abiodun, INEC

……as Nat’l body kicks against withdrawal of petition

The New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, in Ogun State has filed a notice of discontinuance of its petition against Governor Dapo Abiodun and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The NNPP had earlier dragged Governor Abiodun, his political party, APC and INEC, to the Ogun state governorship election petition tribunal over the omission of the name of the party on the ballot paper used during the March 18 poll.

The petition, marked EPT/OG/GOV/01/2023, was filed by the chairman of the NNPP in Ogun, Olaposi Oginni.

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The NNPP had asked the tribunal to cancel the election on the ground that the party’s name and logo were omitted on the ballot papers.

But addressing newsmen in Abeokuta, the state capital on Sunday, Oginni disclosed that the NNPP had filed a notice of discontinuance of the petition at the tribunal.

The NNPP state chairman stated that the party took the decision in the interest of the state.

He explained that if the petition survives, it would alter the political calendar of Ogun State and bring disruption to the political system in the state.

“The petition is now dead and buried. As a party, we will go back to the drawing board ahead of 2027 and we hope to get it right,” he said.

Meanwhile, the national leadership of the NNPP has kicked against the action of the state chapter, declaring that the party did not authorize anyone or group of people to withdraw its petition against Governor Abiodun, APC and INEC.

The national body disclosed this in a letter sent to the Secretary, Ogun State Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Abeokuta, through the national legal adviser of the party, Robert Hon.

The party while speaking further, urged the tribunal to discountenance the said notice of withdrawal.

The party while debunking the withdrawal, urged the tribunal to discountenance the said notice.

It insisted that the petitioner, the NNPP is desirous of prosecuting the petition before the tribunal.