The Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has conducted elections into five chapters under its Western Zone.
Speaking with Shipping Position Daily in Lagos on the eve of the election, Chairman of Board of Trustees of ANLCA, Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha said a new Association Electoral Committee (ASECO) was constituted to conduct the election.
The ASECO which was inaugurated by Mustapha is headed by Chief Obi Chima, with Secretary as Asiwaju Bolade Oladipo and five other members.
Mustapha told our correspondent that the crisis between the National Executive Committee (NECOM) of the association and the Western Zone chapters necessitated the BoT to tak- over running of the association as custodians of the constitution.
He recounted how the BoT had visited the national Secretariat to hold a meeting on Monday, but met it under lock and key due to the feud between NECOM and the Western zone.
The BOT Chairman said the association abhors vacuum and that, since the tenure of the serving chairmen of the five Western Zone chapters would elapse in January, election ought to be done three months before the expiration.
On the recent suspension of eight Western Zone chapter executives by the National Executive Council (NEC) of the association in Abuja last week Monday, a member of the board told Shipping Position Daily that the board was not notified of such action by the NECOM, hence, the action is null and void.
"There is no part of the ANLCA constitution that says that any member that misses the NEC should be suspended, there is a procedure for suspending anyone in ANLCA "
"Was there any query, any panel or committee set up to invite all these people and present their finding? What was the finding? So it is not sustainable, as far as we are concerned, they are all jesters, they are only dramatizing "
On his part, Sir Ernest Elochuckwu, a member of the Board said the NEC can only be the highest decision making of the association if well constituted and convened.
Also speaking, Secretary of the BOT, Prince Taiye Oyeniyi said the National President, Tony Nwabunike side-stepped Section 24 of ANLCA constitution which clearly spells out procedure of disciplining an ering member. He said the president only implemented section 30 which gave him some powers to act.
Oyeniyi however corrected that ANLCA constitution must be followed step by step before leading to expulsion of any member.
Meanwhile, elections were conducted on Wednesday into five Western Zone chapters including Apapa, Tin Can, PTML, Seme and KLT chapters. It was held at the Villa Park Hotel in Festac, Lagos.
National Publicity Secretary of ANLCA, Mr. Joe Sanni in a statement sent to our correspondent after the election disclosed that ASECO adopted the option of A4 procedure which involves the voters queuing behind their preferred candidates and counted to conduct the elections, chapter by chapter.
A breakdown of the results from Seme Border showed that Barr. Bisiriyu Lasisi Fanu won with 59 votes; Vice Chairman – Abioye T. Wasiu, 59 votes; Secretary- Obatayo Kehinde, 59 votes ;Financial Secretary- Okunola Abdulateef Taiwo, 59 votes & Treasurer-Alahji Abagana Zubair Mele, 59 votes.
At MMI Airport Chapter, Chairmanship was won by the sole candidate – Akindele Pius Temitope with 25 votes.
At KLT chapter, Chairman- Goddy Sewa Soleji won with 20 votes, Secretary-Abayomi Ajibola, Assistant Secretary- Udeze Paulinus, and Treasurer-Kayode Ajayi, all with 20 votes each.
At PTML chapter, Chairman- Elder Obe Samuel won with 38 votes, Vice Chairman- Sunday Davies Nwarinne, Secretary- Babatunde Adekoya, Financial Secretary- Ademola Omoniyi, Publicity Secretary – Sulaimon Ayokunle, Treasurer- Kayode Ajayi and Assistant Secretary- Sunny Ugorji, all winning with equal number of 38 votes each.
Apapa chapter saw Chief Dom Onyeka winning the chairmanship with 39 votes, Vice Chairman- Femi Olawore , Secretary- Awonuga Olatunde, Treasurer-Abidemi Aberejo and Financial Secretary- Emmanul Okoli, all with 39 votes each, while the PRO- Emeka Chukwumalu and Assistant Secretary- Edeigba Thomas won with 38 votes each.
Announcing the results, Chairman of ASECO, Chief Obi Chima thanked both the contestants and voters for their orderliness and cooperation with ASECO, and wishing the winners, on behalf of ASECO a successful tenure. Chief Obi Chima also thanked the BOT for giving them the opportunity to serve the association.
During the inauguration ceremony, the Zonal Coordinator West, Sir John DanKatsina Ofobike administered the oath of office on the winners of the election and were issued with certificates of return by the Chairman of BOT-Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha, who seized the opportunity to thank members of ANLCA for their patience, apologized to the entire membership for the trouble they have gone through, because of the BOT Chairmanship crisis, allegedly prolonged by the immediate past Chairman of the Board of Trustees – Chief Henry Njoku.
Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha seized the opportunity to reveal how the Board elections were conducted, how Chief Njoku was roundly defeated (5 votes for Alhaji Mustapha, 2 votes for Chief Njoku & 1 member abstained) and how Njoku refused to surrender the Chairmanship.
Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha also revealed how he painstakingly over several months, tried to persuade Chief Njoku to relinquish the Chairmanship to no avail, until the other BOT members’ patience ran out
Alhaji Mustapha who challenged the newly inaugurated executives to rise up to solve their members’ operational challenges and ensure they defend the mandates just given to them freely, physically and transparently, charged ANLCA members to support the BOT to salvage it from the low it has presently sunk.
Former president of ANLCA, Ernest Elochukwu thanked members for the patience and understanding during the pendency of the BOT crisis, promising that it shall never happen again, as they embark on facing the fallouts of the Board’s efforts.
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