Former Chairman of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Ogun State, Comrade Olaposi Oginni, has loss out in his bid to return as the chairman of the party in the state as the Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, dismissed his suit challenging the authority of the national leadership of the party to expel him from the party.
It would be recalled that the national leadership of the party had expelled the Chairman of the party in both Ogun and Delta states.
The party also added that Oginni was expelled over what it described as anti-party activities with his expulsion announced by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Dr Agbo Major in a statement made available to journalists in April, 2023.
Major disclosed that Oginni and his Delta state counterpart were expelled after the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party set up a Disciplinary Committee to investigate the leadership of the party in three states of Ogun, Edo and Delta.
He also announced the dissolution of the executives from the state to the local government and ward levels in Ogun and Delta states with effective from Thursday, April 27, 2023.
He stated further that the expulsion of the duo of Oginni and Tobor would be taken to the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the national convention for ratification, insisting 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.
But dissatisfied with the decision of the national leadership of the party, Oginni filed a suit at the Federal High Court challenging its authority over his expulsion.
However delivering judgement in the suit No: FHC/AB/CS/21/2023, where Olaposi Oginni was the plaintiff while NNPP the 1st defendant, NWC of the NNPP the 2nd defendant and INEC the 3rd defendant, Hon. Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi, said the originating summons were lacking in merit, the objection of the Defendants/ Applicant meritorious and thus dismissed the originating summons.
The judgement read in part, “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 combine 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 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 summons is therefore dismissed. Each Party shall bear its own costs”.
