The crisis in Ogun State chapter of New Nigeria People’s Party over the weekend reach a dangerous dimension as there are alleged plans by some aggrieved members to use all available means to blackmail the state chairman, Comrade Olaposi Oginni.
It was gathered that the Governorship Candidate of the party in the last election, Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo met a group of people including one barrister John Femi Aina at his residence in Ibadan, Oyo State so as to look for ways in allegedly hijacking the NNPP structure from Oginni.
An impeccable source who was also at the meeting told our correspondent that the aggrieved members in their desperate move agreed to use a woman that would accuse Oginni of sexual assault.
The Ogun NNPP has been engulfed in crisis following a fallout between Oginni and the governorship candidate over the ownership of a petition filed by the party before the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
Oginni had filed a petition before the Tribunal, challenging the victory of Governor Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the March 18 election.
The party in the election petition with suit number; EPT/OG/GOV/01/2023 dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission, Governor Abiodun, and his party, APC before the Tribunal over an alleged omission of the NNPP’s name on the ballot papers used for the governorship and assembly elections held in the state.
But, Oguntoyinbo who wanted to take control of the petition filed an application to change the counsel of the party.
The tribunal, however, rejected the appeal, insisting that Oginni remains the owner of the petition.
The court while dismissing the petition based on Oginni’s request also unanimously affirmed the Ogun NNPP Chairman as the original owner of the petition filed by the party.
The NNPP governorship candidate in an attempt to get hold of the party’s affairs reportedly made a move by allegedly conniving with the National Working Committee to announce Oginni’s expulsion from the party.
While Oginni was relying on a court order restricting the party from expelling him, the founder described the purported expulsion as unconstitutional and illegal.
Aniebonam while insisting he was not aware of the expulsion, noted that the action of the party's working committee does not have his blessings.
The NNPP Founder stressed that the party's NWC did not follow due process and procedures in the Purported expulsion of Oginni as Ogun chairman.
Aniebonam explained that the National Convention of the Party has the final Authority to expel a member, stressing that it is beyond the NWC to publicly announce Oginni's expulsion without due process.
Oguntoyinbo and other members who were angry that Oginni's expulsion was declared unconstitutional have allegedly begun other plan to remove the party chairman.
The source said the aggrieved members led by the party's flagbearer have begun move to employ the service of a prostitute also known as hookup girl that would alleged the state chairman of rape and assault.
He hinted that Oguntoyinbo at the meeting expressed readiness to bankroll the "satanic plot" by paying the prostitute so they can use her pictures in carrying out the alleged blackmail.
The source who was unhappy with the decision hinted that the aggrieved members concluded that Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo will bankroll the case and employ services of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN) to pursue the case at the court.
While noting that the aggrieved members agreed the case will end no where,.. the source said the blackmail was to bring about public out cry of immorality against the party chairman.
The source said the aggrieved members of Ajadi Oguntoyinbo's extraction in the meeting noted that the blackmail will give them an opportunity to impeach Oginni and take over the party's structure in the state.
The source added, "They plan to blackmail Oginni with a woman. They will pay the woman who will be a prostitute so she can accuse the NNPP chairman of sexual assault.
"The plan is that when they bring it on the news, they will be able to ask Oginni to step down pending the determination of his innocence and in the process, they will hijack the party.
"Barrister Aina was part of the meeting and he even made suggestion that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria ( SAN) should be used so that the case will look big.
"I was also aggrieved but looking at what they are trying to do. Hiring a prostitute to lie against someone just because you can't win the person legally, I feel I need to raise the alarm before it become too late.”
Reacting, Oginni described the blackmail plan as an efforts in futility.
While describing Oguntoyinbo and his cohorts as "bittered people", the party chairman said he is going to win just like he has always done over them.
He added, "I learnt they are planning to blackmail me with a woman. It is going to be efforts in futility. They are bittered that they can't use the legal means to beat Oginni.
"No matter what it take, I will continue to use the law to fight my battle, nothing will discourage us not even their threat.
"I hope the world is taking note of their plans, it will not be surprising when the plan is out. We already know what they are planning and I know I will always triumph because I am for justice, equity and fair play.
"The founder of the party, Dr Boniface Aniebonam has let us know his position, and if they are not happy with that, they can leave the party in peace. It is not compulsory they remain in the party.
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