The Economic Freedom Fighters in Nelson Mandela Bay say they will no longer be supporting a petition calling for the removal of executive mayor Mongameli Bobani at Thursday's special Council meeting.
The petition, calling for his removal and said to be bearing the signatures of 117 of the 120 city councillors, was presented to the Speaker, Buyelwa Mafaya, last week.
It was one of the main issues on the agenda for this week's meeting.
However, on Tuesday the EFF, which initially supported the petition, announced that it would no longer be supporting the motion to oust Bobani.
"After careful consideration and technicalities related to the removal of the mayor in the NMB Council, we have taken a decision that the EFF should, with immediate effect, withdraw from the motion of no confidence against the Mayor," said EFF provincial chairperson Yazini Tetyana.
In a letter to the party's caucus in the Metro, Tetyana said the EFF was withdrawing because "no certainty can be given that there won't be a DA mayor after the current mayor is removed; that the EFF does and cannot be associated with the Patriotic Alliance and that national leadership will deal with the issues after engagements with other parties."
Meanwhile, minority party, the United Front, announced its continued support for the UDM's Mayor Bobani.
Addressing a media briefing on Tuesday alongside UDM councillors, the United Front said the motion of no confidence was a ploy by the ANC and the DA in the Eastern Cape to reclaim power in the Metro.
UF regional co-ordinator, Xolisile Peter, said they were also concerned that the ANC would, through the back-door, put an administrator in place in Nelson Mandela Bay or that former DA mayor, Athol Trollip, would return.