The opposition New Nigeria People’s Party has raised the alarm over the impersonation of its governorship candidate, Gbenga Edema, and his running-mate, Rotimi Adeyemi, in the forthcoming Ondo State governorship poll.

Peoples Gazette reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission fixed the state’s off-cycle governorship election for November 16, 2024, with about 12 political parties fielding candidates for the exercise. 

The NNPP raised the alarm in a letter addressed to the National Chairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, a copy obtained by journalists in Akure, the state capital, on Wednesday.

The NNPP National Chairman, Ajuji Ahmed and the party’s Secretary, Dipo Olayoku, who signed the statement, accused two persons, Akintan Michael and Kemi Fasua, of impersonation. 

Messrs Ahmed and Olayoku asked the electoral body to quickly intervene by taking swift legal actions against the duo, who are not members of their party, for impersonating the NNPP candidate and his running-mate in the forthcoming election. 

“We wish to bring to the attention of your good office a case of impersonation of the NNPP governorship and deputy governorship candidates in the forthcoming off-cycle on November 16, 2024. The culprits are Engr. Akintan Michael and Mrs Kemi Fasua, purporting to be the NNPP governorship candidate and deputy governorship candidate of the NNPP, both of whom are unknown to the party,” the petition partly read. 

Describing the alleged action of the duo as a breach of the 2022 electoral act, the NNPP leadership noted that the electoral umpire was duly notified of the emergency of Messrs Edema and Adeyemi, as its standard-bearers during the substituted primary held on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, held in Akure.

The opposition party explained that its candidate and his running-mate emerged following the withdrawal of its former candidate, Oluwatosin Ayeni and his deputy governorship candidate, Abigail Omoyugbo for “personal reasons.”

It maintained that the candidature of Messrs Edema and Adeyemi was legally recognised as their names and credentials were published by INEC as the party’s candidates in the schedule of activities for the election.

“Recall, sir that we informed your good office of our Ondo State governorship primary fixed for Friday, April 26, 2024, via a letter NNPP/HQRTS/INEC/024/23 dated March 7, 2024.  At the said primary, monitored by officials of the INEC, Mr Ayeni Oluwatosin Israel emerged as the NNPP governorship candidate, and he later picked Mrs. Omoyugbo Abike Abigail as his running mate, and the two names were published by INEC.

“However, due to what they called “personal reasons,” the two of them withdrew their candidature, which prompted the NNPP to schedule a fresh primary to elect a replacement on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at Solton Hotel, Ijapo Estate, Akure, Ondo State via our letter NNPP/HQRTS/INEC/024/54,” the statement read. 

It also added, “The fresh primary was monitored by INEC officials, where Barr. Gbenga Omogbemi Edema emerged as the new governorship candidate of the NNPP, and he later picked Barr. Rotimi Emmanuel Adeyemi as his running mate. 

“These two names were later published by your good office in the final list of governorship candidates and their deputies on Friday, June 14, 2024. However, to our chagrin, our attention was recently drawn to one Engr. Akintan Michael pasting posters, claiming to be the governorship candidate of our party in Ondo State, and one Mrs. Kemi Fasua as his running mate.”

The statement further noted, “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/nomination form not to talk of contesting in our primary. 

“We therefore wish to submit that this is a clear case of impersonation and a breach of the electoral law. It is our belief that such an act should not be handled with kid gloves, and it deserves serious attention and action by the INEC to serve as a deterrent to those whose objective is to truncate the forthcoming governorship election and indeed the peace of Ondo State.

“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.”

The development is coming barely five months to the state’s governorship election, even as the electoral body lifted the ban on campaign activities for political parties participating in the poll.