Poor planning, delayed accreditation, and allegations of electoral fraud combined to mar the recently-conducted Western Zone elections of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA).
The election, which was meant to be a straightforward process, turned into a chaotic exercise, particularly at the Apapa chapter, where tensions ran high, and controversies erupted.
As earlier reported, the election suffered significant setbacks due to delays in accreditation. While accreditation was expected to commence early, it did not start until about 10 a.m., leaving voters stranded for hours. The process dragged on so long that actual voting did not begin until 3:45 p.m., prolonging the entire exercise to late into the night.
Our correspondent who was on ground reports that by the time votes were being counted, tempers had flared across various chapters, culminating in the Apapa chapter election crisis.
The Apapa chapter, which had two strong contenders for the chairmanship position; Chukwumalu Emeka and Femi Olawoore, witnessed an escalation of tension when allegations of vote padding surfaced. The ASECO committee initially announced that 108 voters had been accredited, but during vote collation, 125 votes were recorded. This discrepancy immediately sparked protests, with agents demanding answers. The atmosphere quickly turned hostile as name-calling and heated arguments broke out, nearly escalating into physical confrontations.
Despite the presence of heavy security personnel, our correspondent also observed the entry of suspected thugs into the election venue. Their presence heightened anxiety, as some voters became uneasy about potential violence. The situation was worsened by the apparent indecisiveness of the ASECO chairman, who frequently deferred to the Board of Trustees (BoT) before making critical decisions. His hesitation was most glaring during the Apapa election debacle, where he struggled to take a firm stance on the controversies unfolding before him.
With the situation spiraling out of control, the BoT Chairman; Mr Taiwo Mustapha eventually stepped in and declared the Apapa election inconclusive, confirming that a new date would be set for a rerun.
Meanwhile, other chapters managed to conclude their elections, albeit after significant delays. At the Tin Can chapter, Wale Cole secured a landslide victory with 105 votes against Faturoti Seyi, who polled only six votes. PTML saw Sunday Nwarinze emerge as chairman with 45 votes, while Seme chapter had no surprises as Wasiu Toyin Abioye and other candidates ran unopposed.
