The Ogun State Chairman of New Nigeria People’s Party, Comrade Olaposi Oginni Sunday has described his expulsion by the National Working Committee of the party as a mere imagination than cannot stand in the face of the law.
Oginni while insisting that the expulsion by the NNPP NWC is just a waste of time, stressed that the party leadership has committed contempt of court.
NNPP national publicity secretary, Dr Agbo Major had announced the expulsion of Oginni-led Ogun State executive over an alleged involvement in anti-party activities.
Major said the leadership of the party in Ogun State worked against the party’s interest and endorsed other party’ candidate in the state.
Reacting, Oginni maintained that the NWC cannot expel him because he has instituted a suit against the national leadership.
The Ogun State NNPP chairman stressed that any attempt by the party to expel him is efforts in futility.
He noted that the expulsion move by the party is contrary to the constitution of the country and NNPP.
He added, “Any form of expulsion is the imagination of their own myopic thinking, it cannot stand the test of time.
“There is already a suit instituted in court and the NNPP national leadership has been duly served.
“Their coming out to say they have expelled me is an affront to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is absolute contempt of court for them to have announced my expulsion. Constitutionally too, only the Convention has the right to expel any member talkless of a National Executive Council member of my status”
“With the illegality they have committed; is this new Nigeria we are talking about? Is this the fair nation we are clamouring for? The new Nigeria is only possible when al andl sundry have absolute respect for the rule of law.
“The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria must be respected at all times. Therefore, any affront to the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria or the constitution of NNPP cannot stand the test of time.
“The purported expulsion is a ruse because it has been overtaken by event at the Federal High Court with a suit restricting the National Working Committee of the NNPP on acting against anything that has to do with Ogun State.”
Speaking on anti-party allegation, Oginni said,”I will not join issue with the national publicity secretary who alleged that I engaged in anti-party activities because this is already a matter in court”.
“The anti-party activities allegation is baseless because the petition at the tribunal was filed at my own discretion on behalf of the party and I withdrew it in the interest of the party. It’s on record that Buba Galadima the Secretary of NNPP’s Board of Trustees on Wednesday on Arise Television butress our position that NNPP at the National did not challenge the non inclusion of NNPP name on the ballot logo because they want Nigeria to move forward.
Consequently, is it a sin for us to get out of the Tribunal to make Ogun State to move forward?
“The withdrawal of our petition at the Tribunal cannot be regarded as anti-party activities. If they have evidence of anti-party activities, they should come and meet us at 22nd of May at the Federal High Court.
“The decision of the NWC cannot be greater than the constitution of the country or the party. By the constitution of the party and federal republic of Nigeria, I remained the Chairman of NNPP in Ogun State.”
Recalled that the Oginni-led state executive dragged the NNPP NWC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to court to seek an order restraining the national body from interfering in the affairs and activities of the party in Ogun State.
The state executive sought for an interlocutory injunction restraining the National Working Committee of the party from suspending, impeaching, expelling, or dissolving the state executive.
The Oginni-led state executive in the suit also prayed the court to give an order directing NNPP NWC to maintain status quo in Ogun State by allowing him to remain the chairman of the party and act in that regard.
Oginni in his originating summons asked the court to declare that he is vested with the constitutional right and duty, being the Chairman of the NNPP in Ogun State to take necessary actions for the protection of the interest of the party in the state.
He also prayed the court to grant an order directing INEC to recognize only him as the democratically elected chairman of NNPP in the state and shall remain in office until the expiration of his tenure.
