In a shocking development ahead of the New National Party’s (NNP) convention on Sunday, sources within the party have said that outgoing leader Dr. Keith Mitchell is pushing for the expulsion of popular party member Peter David.

During a tense executive meeting on Friday, Mitchell reportedly proffered David’s expulsion, labeling him a “cancer to be taken out.”

He blames David for the current attention being paid to the processes in the party.

However, insiders suggest that David’s growing popularity, particularly among grassroots supporters, and his potential bid for party leadership have made him a target of Mitchell and his allies.

Emmalin Pierre, a prominent party figure, is reportedly strongly backing the idea of her rival’s expulsion, with three different sources quoting her at a previous strategy meeting as saying the party would be “stronger without him.”

Pierre is expected to be nominated as the new political leader at Sunday’s convention. The executive meeting late Friday decided that Dr. Mitchell himself will nominate her, according to multiple sources.

Dr Mitchell has already announced he will take the chairmanship of the party. He has asked outgoing Chairman Oliver Joseph to nominate him, and he has reportedly agreed.

Gregory Bowen is to be made deputy Chairman; those reports have also been confirmed.

It is widely speculated that long-standing allies Mitchell and Bowen will continue to control the party from these two top positions, as well as through their expected continued financing.

While Pierre will be made leader, she is not expected to become Opposition Leader in the parliament.

Sources say Dr Mitchell has insisted on holding on to the position, opening further questions to his real long-term motives.

Political analysts argue that Mitchell’s unwillingness to relinquish control could stifle the party’s evolution and efforts to unify under new leadership.

Former NNP member Delma Thomas, who left the party after its 2022 general election loss, had also publicly warned that David would be targeted, foreshadowing the current developments.

The expulsion of David, should it proceed, could be the tipping point in an already fraught power struggle with lasting consequences for the party’s future.

Winston Garraway, a purported supporter of the expulsion idea, reportedly said during Friday’s executive meeting: “It is time to bury (them) in the sea.”