The New Nigeria Peoples Party has rejected reports suggesting that its governorship and deputy governorship candidates in Oyo State had withdrawn from the race, maintaining that Mr. Adebiyi Adedapo and Alhaja Muibat Folasade Durojaiye remain its duly nominated candidates for the respective positions.
The party conveyed its position in a formal petition to the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, challenging what it described as an unauthorised attempt to remove or replace its candidates through questionable letters, affidavits and signatures.
In the petition, NNPP National Secretary, Comrade Oginni Olaposi Sunday, explained that the party’s leadership, under the supervision of Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam, had not approved or endorsed any move to alter the governorship and deputy governorship nominations already made for Oyo State.
The party said it was particularly concerned about reports of the alleged withdrawal of Adedapo and Durojaiye, noting that the documents reportedly submitted to support the development had generated serious doubts over their authenticity and whether they received the necessary authorisation.
According to the National Secretary, the NNPP would not accept any withdrawal documents or affidavits purportedly submitted on its behalf until their genuineness, proper execution and compliance with the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act had been adequately established.
The party also distanced itself from any alleged involvement in forging or manipulating the signatures of the affected candidates. It insisted that claims of fraudulent representation should be subjected to a comprehensive investigation, with anyone found culpable held accountable through due legal procedures.
The NNPP cautioned against allowing individuals or groups to misuse its identity and authority to secure changes to candidates’ records at INEC without the party’s approval.
Against this backdrop, the party called on the electoral commission to retain its existing nomination records and disregard any documents established to be forged, falsified or submitted without proper authorisation. It further urged INEC to preserve the candidates’ current status until the dispute is resolved in accordance with the law.
The party also requested an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the disputed withdrawal letters and affidavits, particularly to determine whether the documents were personally and genuinely executed by the candidates whose names they reportedly carried and whether the prescribed legal requirements were satisfied.
Additionally, the NNPP urged INEC to forward any credible findings pointing to forgery, perjury, fraud or other criminal offences to the relevant law-enforcement agencies and prosecutorial authorities for necessary action.
Restating its position on the disputed nominations, the party specifically asked INEC to continue recognising Adebiyi Adedapo and Muibat Folasade Durojaiye as its governorship and deputy governorship candidates in Oyo State, subject to the verification of the relevant nomination documents and applicable legal provisions.
It stressed that the credibility of its internal nomination process must not be undermined by attempts to manipulate official records through forged signatures, questionable affidavits or withdrawal notices issued without the party’s consent.
The party expressed confidence in INEC’s ability to handle the complaint appropriately, urging the commission to take necessary measures to uphold the rule of law and safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.
The petition was signed by Comrade Oginni Olaposi Sunday in his capacity as the National Secretary of the New Nigeria Peoples Party.
