…points at irregularities, undemocratic practice
The female gubernatorial candidate of New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP)in Ogun state Dr. Jackie Kassim may withdraw from the governorship race in the state.
Dr Kassim whose name appeared on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)list few weeks ago, was reported to have been disqualified from the contest because she bypassed the state to get her nomination form at the national headquarters of the party in Abuja.
Our reporter gathered that Dr Kassim stepping down her candidature is to allow peace to reign within the party and the state as a whole, despite irregularities and internal politics played at the state level.
It is reported that her option of stepping down may not be unconnected with some political realignment still ongoing within the party nationwide to enable NNPP win election in all the states where it is fielding candidates for the election.
Dr Jackie Kassim however, denied the statement credited to the state chairman of the party, Comrade Sunday Oginni that she was disqualified for emerging as a factional candidate of the party.
She explained that,”I am the only qualified governorship candidate on the platform of NNPP in Ogun state that obtained the nomination form as well as paid all the stipulated dues. All other so-aclaimed candidates were mere dummy aspirants, who never meet up with the criterium set down that would have enabled them qualified for the contest.
“But because of some clandestine moves by some personalities, which I considered would be inimical to the overall progress of the party and have the tendencies of affecting the fortunes of the party in the forthcoming general elections, I consider it exigent and in the spirit of sportsmanship, to sacrifice my guber ambition in the interest of the party, particularly when the purpose of the contest is to serve humanity in my state and in Nigeria as a whole”.
Dr. Jackie Kassim emphatically stated that she would still remain the authentic guber candidate of NNPP untill certain conditions are met before she finally withdraw her candidature.
This according to her, is in accordance with the terms reached between her and the national leadership of the party in the efforts at repositioning the party in Ogun State.
She however, appealed to all her supporters, including the Iyadunni Campaign Movement across the entire 20 Local Government Areas of the state, as well as other elders and other loyal members of NNPP to remain calm and join hands with the leadership of the party in the state towards ensuring that NNPP emerge victorious in the forthcoming general elections.