The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has scheduled the election of its gubernatorial candidate in Edo State for February 23, in preparation for the upcoming September election. The party has also disavowed individuals it claims have been expelled but continue to present themselves as party officials, in defiance of an existing court order that they have not contested.
The NNPP has warned of potential contempt proceedings against those persisting in identifying as party officials post-expulsion. Acting National Chairman Kawu Ali, in a press briefing held at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, announced the party’s readiness for the upcoming rerun and by-elections nationwide.
Ali disclosed that the party has commenced the sale of nomination forms for the Edo State gubernatorial elections, with the Nomination Form priced at N10 million and the Expression of Interest form at N1 million.
He added: “The National Working Committee (NWC) of NNPP wishes to put the record straight on the misconducts of some elements who have no locus but continue to parade themselves as leaders of our great party.
“These people were expelled from the party in line with its constitution. Not only that, there is a restraining order of court of competent jurisdiction stopping them from parading themselves as leaders of this party.
“They neither challenged this order nor tried in any way to vacate it. As we are here today, the order subsists.
“Flowing from above, all the activities of this renegade group amount to a contempt of court, which the laws of our great country seriously frown at. This court order was not only served on them but media houses were also copied.
“However, it is very unfortunate that some media houses, unknowingly, apart from abetting these people, continue to flout the orders of the honourable court. We wish to use this medium to appeal to our friends in the media to avoid being dragged by these characters into flouting a valid court order…”
Commenting on tomorrow’s polls, Kawu said the NNPP was prepared to participate in them in about 26 states.
He urged Nigerians to cooperate with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deliver elections.
