The governorship candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party in the November 16, 2024, poll in Ondo State, Olugbenga Edema, has quit the party.  

Mr Edema, who lost the governorship seat to incumbent Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, expressed his decision in a letter on Sunday. 

“I wish to humbly inform you of my intention to resign my membership of the party forthwith,” he said in the copy of the letter addressed to the chairman of the NNPP in his Mahin Ward 11, Ilaje LGA of the state. 

Mr Edema’s exit from the NNPP came after the Akure Division of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal in the state, dismissed his suit challenging the primary election which produced Mr Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Olayide Adelami as the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress.  

He had approached the court and compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the nomination and publication of Messrs Aiyedatiwa and Adelami as the APC candidates, citing constitutional grounds. 

Mr Edema, in the suit, asked the court to interpret the applicability of Section 15 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) over the nomination of the APC candidates.

But the suit was struck out by the court after Mr Edema’s political party, the NNPP – which is co-plaintiff in the case, withdrew from it, saying the party was not consulted by the former before approaching the court. 

In the copy of Mr Edema’s resignation letter obtained by Peoples Gazette, he said the NNPP had been characterised with internal wranglings and rancour, which stunted its growth since joining the party in 2024. 

He added that such development was not healthy for any serious-minded party intending to win elections, being the major objective of political parties. 

He stated, “Since my over 35 years in active political party participation, I have never seen a political party with a leadership so treacherous to the extent of frustrating its candidate by withdrawing a legitimate case in court in favour of an opposing party against its candidate. It is apparent that the objective of the party is radically different from the above stated objectives of any serious-minded political party. From the foregoing, it is obvious that I am not on the same page with the leadership of the party as to what a party’s objectives and values should be. By this letter therefore, I hereby cease to be a member of the New Nigeria People’s Party with effect from today, May 9, 2025. No doubt, lessons have been learnt.’’ 

The Gazette reports that Mr Edema was among over 15 governorship candidates of political parties who contested the Ondo governorship seat with the incumbent governor.