Female presidential candidate Eunice Atuejide suspended by her National Interest Party

FEMALE presidential candidate Eunice Atuejide has been suspended by the national executive committee of her National Interest Party (NIP) for forgery and misappropriation of funds in a move that threatens to derail her campaign.

Mrs Atuejide, 40, had lit up the Nigerian presidential race being a young, vibrant and energetic woman, who promised to battle all the way to Aso Rock, whatever obstacles were in her path.  She is considered part of the new brigade of young politicians that include other presidential aspirants such as Omoyele Sowore, Kingsley Moghalu, Alistair Soyode, Fela Durotoye, Adamu Garba, Chris Emejuru, Yul Edochie and Omike Chikeluba Lewis.

However, yesterday, Mrs Atuejiden, who doubles as national chairman of the party was suspended alongside its secretary, Audu Israel. They were both accused of actions bordering on forgery, misappropriation of party funds without requisite approval, falsification of documents, a criminal breach of trust, conversion and criminal conspiracy, anti-party activities and usurpation of power.

A communiqué signed and issued by the party’s national legal adviser, Sanni Abass, at the end of an emergency meeting held in Abuja, read: “After a unanimous decision taken by two thirds of the national executive committee members, the party is alleging, amongst other gross misconducts, forgery, misappropriation of party funds without requisite approval, falsification of documents, criminal breach of trust, conversion and criminal conspiracy, anti-party activities and usurpation of power against the person of the chairman and national secretary. All these are not in tandem with the spirit of the doctrine of the party.

“It will also interest the public to know that, Mrs Eunice Atuejide has been autocratically ruling the party by appointing herself as the national chairman, national leader, chief whip and above all, the party’s presidential aspirant without the approval of the party’s national executive committee. This suspension is in line with the extant provision of the constitution of the party, which stipulates that a member of the party may be suspended by the national executive committee and it may decide what disciplinary measures to place on a member of the party."

He added that it was resolved at the meeting that Mrs Atuejide and the national secretary remain suspended pending the conclusion of the on-going investigations by the national executive committee and the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec).  Meanwhile, a strong worded petition has been forwarded to Inec on the suspension notice and relevant anti-graft agencies asking them to commence further investigations against the duo.