….The Election Was Rigged—Basil Nwolisa
Allegations of mass rigging and a number of other irregularities characterized the election processes into the national executive council of the Igbo Maritime Forum Election which took place in Lagos yesterday even as one of the contestant; Chief Basil Nwolisa protested that the election was rigged massively.
Shipping Position Daily correspondent who was on ground to monitor the process noted that the elections were conducted amidst anxiety and palpable fear. Other observers at the election venue who spoke with our correspondent also alleged that the atmosphere of the election was rowdy, unorganized and that the process was far from being free and fair.
Chief Damian Obianigwe, Chairman of FANO Bonded Terminal eventually emerged as the winner of the election by a landslide vote of 344 over his opposition; Chief Basil Nwolisa who polled 157. Chief Nwolisa has however refused the outcome of the elections, saying that the process was rigged.
Speaking after the results was announced, he said that “I feel cheated, because 444 voters were accredited and total of 526 votes were cast, personally I caught some people with 20 or 30 voting cards with them and this are some of the reasons why the country Nigeria cannot move forward, I have to go to my constituency to come out with a solid action” he promised
Some of the irregularities that were also pointed out was that in other to disqualify him, a questionable petition was at the die minutes instituted against one of the contestant; Chief Basil Nwolisa a member of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agent (ANLCA) but who was being promoted by another sister association; the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF)
Amidst the heat of the whole drama, the chairman of the forums’ electoral committee, Chief Achike Molokwu had also suggested that the president General election be postponed but vested interest from the NAGAFF camp had vehemently refused.
In the middle of the election process, National Secretary of NAGAFF, Mr. Increase Uche had raised an alarm when he allegedly noticed that the Secretary of the Liilypond chapter of ANALCA was having ten ballot papers and that no steps were taken to retrieve it from him by the officials.
Speaking with our correspondent, Increase said that “The election is not transparent, there is a lot of nepotism and it is a pre mediated arrangement that a given candidate has been selected to be the winner already. I caught them, in fact the secretary of ANLCA Lilypond with over ten cards trying to dump it, I caught them and nobody is taking action about that” he lamented
The election also had in attendance frontline players in the maritime industry, among them is the former chairman of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) Mr. Tony Nwabunike, NAGAFF President; Mr. Eugene Nweke, Presidents of freight forwarding associations and chapter chairmen of ANLCA and NAGAFF.
In other positions that were vied for, only the treasurer seat was keenly contested for between Chief Kalu Ewelike and Mazi Dona Ndupusi, it was eventually won by Mazi Ndupusi who poled 271 against the 145 poled by his opposition.
the remaining positions were won un-opposed and these include; Deputy President, Prince Ozo Chukwura, Secretary General, Chief Dom Obi, Assistant Secretary General, Gideoan Nwabaraocha, Isaac Ndukwe as financial secretary.
Others are Chief Obicee Okonkwo as the public relations officer, mazi Sunday Ugorji as provost general and Hon Osita Madueme as Social welfare officer.
Defending the outcome of the elections however, the electoral chairman, Chief Achike Molokwu explained that In any election especially in Nigeria definitely you must step on some toes and you will agree with me that when you count the total vote cast in between ,you will agree with me that we have almost 500 voters whereby it will not be easy because there are bound to be hitches on both sides but on the average I will say that the election is free and fair”
“I will also agree with me that between the winner and the loser you will agree with that it was actually a winning point .However it is not a winning of two or three difference votes but some of about hundreds of something votes and however it above 200%.So at the day of the day is a victory well deserve”
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