July 25, (THEWILL) – The former Chairman of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Ogun State, Comrade Olaposi Oginni, has lost out in his bid to return as the chairman of the party in the State, as the Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, dismissed his suit challenging the authority of the national leadership of the party for expelling him from the party.
It could be recalled that the national leadership of the party expelled the chairmen of the party in both Ogun and Delta States.
The party had said that the chairman of the party in Ogun State, Olaposi Sunday Oginni, was expelled over what it described as his involvement in anti-party activities.
Oginni’s expulsion was announced by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Dr Agbo Major, in a statement made available to journalists in April 2023.
He maintained that the Ogun State chairman and his Delta State counterpart were expelled after the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party set up a Disciplinary Committee to investigate three States: Ogun, Edo and Delta.
He also announced that the executives from the State to the Local Government and Ward levels in Ogun and Delta States have been dissolved effective from Thursday, April 27, 2023.
He noted that the expulsion of the duo of Olaposi Oginni and Tobor will be taken to the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the national convention for ratification, adding that further development on the two States and others will be made public later.
According to Major, “Consequently, the NWC met on Thursday, April 27, 2023, and came up with the following decisions:
“That both the chairman of NNPP in Ogun State, Sunday Olaposi Oginni and his Delta State counterpart, Chief Efe Tobor, have been expelled from the party with effect from Thursday, April 27, 2023.”
Consequently, upon Oginni’s expulsion, the National Working Committee appointed a Caretaker Committee for Ogun State led by Prince Adekunle Ibrahim as the Chairman.
Dissatisfied with the decision of the National leadership of the party, Oginni filed a suit at the Federal High Court, challenging the authority of the national leadership over his expulsion.
Delivering his judgement in the suit No: FHC/AB/CS/21/2023, where Olaposi Oginni was the plaintiff while NNPP is the 1st defendant, NWC of the NNPP is the 2nd defendant and the INEC was the 3rd defendant, Hon. Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi said the originating summon is found to be lacking in merit, the objection of the Defendants/Applicant is found to be meritorious and is, therefore, upheld and that the originating summon is, therefore, dismissed.
According to the judgement, “Upon the originating summon dated 11th day of April 2023, the Plaintiff seeks the determination of the following question: Whether considering the provision of article 14.2(IV) and other relevant provisions of the 1st defendant’s constitution, the plaintiff as the chairman of the 1st defendant in Ogun State Working Committee can take decision necessary for the protection of the interest of the 1st defendant in Ogun State.
“Whether considering the combined provisions of the articles 21.3 and 27.1 of the 1st and 2nd defendants’ constitution can validly convene an emergency meeting, 2nd defendant without a National Chairman of the 1st defendant.
“This Court, therefore, finds and holds that this matter is not a Pre-election matter, it is an intra-party affair. The Court, therefore, has no jurisdiction as to the matter.
“The matter must be settled as a family matter. The originating summon is found to be lacking in merit, the objection of the Defendants/Applicant is found to be meritorious and is, therefore, upheld.
“The originating summon is, therefore, dismissed. Each Party shall bear its own costs.”
About the Author
AYO ESAN, has been actively reporting and analyzing political events for different newspapers for over 18 years. He has also successfully covered national and state elections in Nigeria since the inception of this democracy in 1999.
