The Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital has dismissed a suit by the former Chairman of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Ogun State, Comrade Olaposi Oginni, challenging the authority of the national leadership of the party to have expelled him.
Recall that the national leadership of the party expelled the chairmen of the party in both Ogun and Delta states, with Oginni axed for what the NNPP described as anti-party activities.
The expulsion of the chairman 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.
He insisted 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, 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 national leadership over his expulsion.
Delivering the judgement on the suit No: FHC/AB/CS/21/2023, where Olaposi Oginni was the plaintiff while the NNPP is the 1st defendant, NWC of the NNPP as 2nd defendant and the INEC was the 3rd defendant, Hon. Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi, said the originating summons 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.
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 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”.
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