As the date for the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) election draws nearer, checks by our correspondent have revealed that the political landscape has become more convoluted, with presidential candidates engaging in heated exchanges and escalating tensions and power struggles.
The election, scheduled to take place in the coming weeks, has seen escalating culminating in yet another fracas during the campaign of Mr. Emenike Nwokeoji and Segun Oduntan at the Tin Can Island Port last Thursday.
A prominent member of the Emenike Nwokeoji and Segun Oduntan campaign train, Mr. Joe Sanni, in a chat with our correspondent, alleged the involvement of certain candidates in planning attacks on opponents during the election period.
Sanni accused a rival presidential candidate; Kayode Farinto, along with factional Tin Can chapter Chairman Ojo Akintoye and Prince Wale Cole, who was attacked in 2021 at Tin Can, as those behind the orchestrated attack. Sanni claimed that the trio planned the assault as a means to silence their opposition and undermine their competitors. He said, “The attack was premeditated, and it was coordinated by Farinto, Akintoye, and Cole.
“Since we started campaigning, we had not experienced any violence until now. This is very suspicious, and it reminds us of what happened back in 2021,” Sanni stated.
The alleged involvement of Farinto, Akintoye, and Cole in the attack has raised concerns among ANLCA members and industry stakeholders about the potential use of underhanded tactics to gain an advantage in the election.
In response to the accusations, Kayode Farinto vehemently denied any involvement in the attack. He labelled the claims as “fake news” and attributed the violence to a conflict between truck drivers and unions. However, Sanni dismissed this response as a mere attempt to divert attention from the seriousness of the situation. “It’s so unfortunate because we know it’s a lie,” Sanni asserted, raising doubts about Farinto’s denial.
However, the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the association has condemned the attack on the campaign activities of the Emenike Nwokeoji and Segun Oduntan Team, along with their supporters, at the Tin Can Island Chapter.
The board described the attack as “reprehensible, provocative, and unwarranted,” and called for an investigation to identify the attackers and their sponsors.
The BoT Chairman, Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha, emphasized the need for contestants to focus on issue-based campaigns and refrain from resorting to violence or hooliganism. He urged the association members to support the healing process and let the election run its course without further negative interferences.
He expressed disapproval of hasty accusations against Kayode Farinto for the attack, stating that such premature conclusions were unwarranted and detrimental to the spirit of fair competition.