Ondo guber: NNPP seeks INEC action against persons impersonating its candidates

By Musa Baba Adamu

The New Nigeria Peoples Party, (NNPP) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), to take swift action against some persons allegedly impersonating the governorship candidate of the party in the state, Gbenga Edema, and his running mate, Rotimi Adeyemi.
The party raised the alarm on Wednesday that some persons identified as Akintan Michael and Kemi Fasua had purportedly been parading themselves as the candidates of the party ahead of the forthcoming off-cycle November 16 governorship election in Ondo State.
In a letter addressed to the National Chairman of the electoral body, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the national secretariat of the party described the development as a clear breach of the 2022 Electoral Act.
The letter signed by the National Chairman of the party, Ajuji Ahmed, and the National Secretary, Dipo Olayoku, emphasised that INEC was duly notified of the emergence of Edema and Adeyemi as its standard-bearers.
According to the party, Edema and Adeyemi emerged during the substituted primary held on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at Solton Hotel, Ijapo Estate, Akure, Ondo State capital, following the withdrawal of Oluwatosin Ayeni and Abigail Omoyugbo for “personal reasons.”
The party disclosed that the candidature of Edema and Adeyemi was cleared and legally recognised as their names and credentials were published by INEC.
According to NNPP: “To our chagrin, our attention was recently drawn to one Engr. Akintan Michael pasting posters, all claiming to be the governorship candidate of our party in Ondo State, and one Mrs. Kemi Fasua as his running mate.
“Mr. Chairman, sir, without doubt, this is a clear case of impersonation, as there was never a time the said Engr. Akintan Michael purchased our Letter of Intent and nomination form not to talk of contesting in our primary.
“We hope the INEC, under your able leadership, will subject these two, Engr. Akintan Makinde and Mrs. Kemi Fasua, to the full process of law, in line with the Electoral Act and other statutory laws of the land.”