With less than 48 hours to the scheduled National Executive Committee (NECOM) elections of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), members of the association are expressing concerns over the growing uncertainties surrounding the exercise.
They express apprehension, particularly regarding the venue and time of the elections. These crucial details have not been communicated to the members, despite the election being only two days away.
Several members of the association have voiced their worries about the protracted crisis within the association. Some have even threatened to boycott the election, due to their dissatisfaction with the present NECOM’s decision to allow Chief Henry Njoku, Peter Obi, Sunday Odedeyi, and other registered board members to oversee the election.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that some members of the association walked out of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held last Monday in Lagos. This walk-out occurred after Dr. Kayode Farinto stated that the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) had informed the association of the cancellation of the registration certificate issued to Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha and others in 2020. As a result, he said the recognized board is now the one led by Chief Henry Njoku, and that it is that board that will supervise the coming NECOM elections.
Furthermore, some members have called for the removal of Chief Alloy Nze Igwe, the Chairman of the Association Electoral Commission (ASECO), due to allegations of not possessing a Customs license.
In a conversation with our correspondent, Chief John Oforbike, a factional member of the association and leader of the Western Zone of ANLCA belonging to the camp of Mr. Emenike Nwokeodi, expressed the faction’s decision not to participate in an election supervised by the Henry Njoku board. Oforbike alleged that some ASECO members do not possess a license and, therefore, cannot supervise election for the licensed Customs agents.
Oforbike stated: “You witnessed the shenanigans that took place last Monday, and you saw how Farinto tried to appoint Henry Njoku and all of that. We have suffered greatly in this crisis, and those who have benefited from it are well known. The so-called acting President’s welcome address, the shared agenda, and the motion to adopt the document all raise concerns.
“How can someone whose tenure has expired twice oversee the election? Additionally, putting individuals without licenses in charge of those who have licenses is a serious issue. A petition was even written to the board, highlighting that most ASECO members lack licenses. According to the Nigerian constitution, if someone wins an election and it is discovered that they presented a fake document, wouldn’t that election be declared null and void?”
He further alleged that Henry Njoku, Kayode Farinto, and Babatunde Mukaila have formed a parallel association called the Port Practitioners Association of Nigeria, with Henry Njoku as the Chairman and Kayode Farinto as the President.
In response to the allegation of a parallel association, the National Secretary of ANLCA, Mr. Babatunde Mukaila, stated that he is unaware of any such association and described the allegation as cheap blackmail and character assassination. He encouraged Oforbike to substantiate his claims rather than speculate and damage peoples’ reputations.
When asked if the election would proceed as planned on July 5th, Mukaila said, “I am not a member of ASECO. We have a capable electoral commission, so I would suggest directing your question to ASECO. As far as I know, the election is on course, and everything is proceeding well.”
Meanwhile, Alloy Nze Igwe, while speaking as a guest on our sister platform; Shipping Position Live on Star FM, could not confirm if the election would take place. He mentioned that ASECO is still deliberating whether to proceed with the election as scheduled or consider a postponement.
“Obviously, we are still deciding whether to elongate, shift, or hold the election on the same date. After going through a series of crises, you can expect some hindrances. However, I can assure you that ANLCA, like a cat with nine lives, will overcome this mess,” Igwe said.
When asked about the venue for the election, he responded, “Revealing the venue or date is not something surprising for you to know by now. However, we are working to address issues and ensure a credible and widely-accepted election. We need to sort out these matters.”
Regarding the allegations of not possessing a Customs license, Igwe said: In Nigeria, when you venture into politics, you should be prepared to face all kinds of insults. As a former Chairman of MMA, two-time PRO of the chapter, Vice Chairman twice, Chairman of the chapter twice, and Auditor General of the association before my current post, I have held several positions within the association. I doubt if someone can claim that I do not have a license.”
Igwe promised to deliver a credible election, emphasizing that his new position is not a challenge for him. He stated, “this is not a challenge for me. When you are called to serve, you are expected to deliver and restore ANLCA’s image. My mandate is to ensure a credible election, and we are on course. ANLCA has experienced ongoing crises, but with wisdom, we are managing them. At the end of the day, all parties will achieve a win-win situation.”
