Ogah-led NEC deepens administrative takeover

The National Secretary of the Temitope Ogah-led NEC, Kennedy Odion, has said the ongoing legal tussle has effectively stalled the party’s engagement with INEC.

According to Odion, who is the Chairman of the Edo State chapter of the party, a court order preserving the status quo has limited INEC’s ability to take further steps regarding the party’s leadership dispute.

Speaking with The Nation, he said: “We have formally communicated the latest development in our party to INEC but the status quo ante bellum injunction is actually stopping them from taking other steps further.

“So, they actually see the position of our National Executive Council (NEC) as the alternative way of putting the party back and maintaining its administrative standings, which we have taken. But because of the status quo ante bellum injunction, they are also being cautious of taking further actions about the party,” Odion said.

He insisted that the NEC’s intervention was in line with the party’s constitution and would not jeopardise its participation in the 2027 general election.

“INEC’s action or inaction at this point is not stopping us from rescuing our party, that is, to prevent or stop us from being on the ballot paper for the general election because we, as the NEC, can and will not allow these bickerings to jeopardise our party’s chances.

“That is why we have taken the step to take control of the administration of the party,” he added.

Odion said the primary objective of the faction was to stabilise the party and prepare it for future elections.

“Our interest is that the party must remain on track, so that we can facilitate our preparation and participation in the general election. That is our aim,” he said.

The state chairman maintained that the move was not targeted at any individual but was driven by constitutional provisions governing party administration.

“The constitution has provided for us as a constituent member to take over the administration of the party where the National Working Committee (NWC) is unable to operate, that is the position we are taking,” he said.

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Odion also stressed that members of the NEC remain legitimate stakeholders regardless of the factional divisions.

“We are not against either, nor for either. So whatever we are doing is for the party, and we remain the party’s officials.

“Whatever will be the pattern of things, for either of the factions, it does not affect us negatively; we are members of the party, we are members of NEC,” he said.

The state chairman added that ongoing internal and external processes would be reviewed to arrive at a workable outcome for the party.

“We are also in touch with some of those processes that have been taken before, while we are doing our own thing. So all of those things will be assessed accordingly which I believe can lead to a better system,” Odion said.