ANLCA Apapa Chapter Election Declared Inconclusive

…As Cole, Nwaneri, Bello Emerge Winners At Tin Can, PTML, KLT

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

The Board of Trustees (BoT) and the Association Electoral Committee (ASECO) of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) yesterday, declared the Apapa chapter election inconclusive, following a disagreement during the exercise.

Above is coming on the heels of misunderstanding and arguments that ensued during the vote counting, as some group insisted that only the vote of 108 registered and screened voters be allowed, contrary to ASECO decision to accommodate votes by members of the National Executive Committee (NECOM) and ASECO; who were believed not to have gone through screening during the exercise.

Following the protracted rowdiness and division on the number of vote cast, the BoT Chairman, Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha took the bold step to declare the Apapa chapter election inconclusive; to give room for acceptable resolution of the impasse.

This is even as Wale Cole, Charles Sunday Nwaneri and Ahmed Olajide Bello, respectively, won the chairmanship seat of Tin Can Island Chapter,  PTML Chapter and KLT Chapter; as Wasiu Toyin Abioye was returned unopposed at Seme Chapter.

Pinnacle Time report that the electioneering process which started late and stretched into the night was generally peaceful, free and fair, and  devoid of any rancour aside the issue of the Apapa chapter.

Irrespective, the two chairmanship contestants for Apapa chapter, Emeka Chukwumalu and Femi Olawore demonstrated high level decorum as they ensured that supporters did not resort to any act of unacceptable behaviour.

While Wale Cole defeated Seyi Faturoti with a landslide score of 106 votes to 6 votes, Soniel Onochie polled 78 votes to defeat Odera Innocent with 30 votes to emerge Vice Chairman, Franky Paul overran Michael Ovien with 66 votes to 46; and Ijigade Temitope garnered 71 votes to beat Addulwasiu Muyideen with 38 votes for the chapter Assistant Secretary position.

For Public Relations Officer, Onome Monije emerged winner with 72 votes over her opponent, Ogunrinola Michael, with 38 votes.

At the PTML Chapter where only the position of the Chairman and Secretary were contested while other posts were returned unopposed, Charles Sunday Nwaneri won the chairmanship position with 45 votes, defeating Waheed Adeboje who scored 20 votes.

Alhaji Ayokunle Sulaiman, Special Assistant to the ANLCA National President on Media, scored 43 votes to defeat his opponent, Chigokie Daniel with 21 votes for the Chapter Secretary. Other include Babatunde Adekoya, Vice Chairman, Chijioke Daniel, Secretary, Balogun Sherifat, Assistant Secretary, Adeyemi Haastrup, Treasurer, Sunday Ugeji, Financial Secretary; and Francis Anderson, Public Relations Officer.

At KLT Chapter, Chibuzo Ogamba stepped down from the chairmanship race shortly before voting commenced, paving the way for Ahmed Olajide Bello to emerge Chairman, unopposed.

Other executive members of KLT Chapter includes; Adetola Adesanya as Secretary, Absulsalam Ademola Wasiu as Assistant Secretary, Kayode Ajayi as Treasurer, Ariyo Bunmi Grace as Financial Secretary.

At the Seme Chapter, all the candidates were returned unopposed, namely Wasiu Toyin Abioye, Chairman; Zabairo Ajamat, Vice chairman; Austen Nwosu, Secretary; Segun Joseph, Treasurer; Rasaq Ibrahim, Financial Secretary; and Okunola Akeem Taiwo, Public Relations Officer.

Addressing members and invited guests just before the electioneering process kicked off, ANLCA National President, Mr. Emenike Kingsley Nwokeoji apologized for delay in starting the process and urged contestants and their supporters and all members of the association to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner.

“In every election, there are bound to be hiccups, but I appreciate your patience today. Election period often comes with tension, it is an opportunity for us to select leaders that would guide us and lead us for a period.

“When you people elected us into office, we assured that we were going to provide level playing ground, so that the leaders that would emerge would be legal, and today we have the opportunity of choosing our leaders in the open, so that anything that you feel is going wrong, you can quickly point it out.”

Nwokeoji said the era where people seek office for the purpose of using the office to feather their nest in an unacceptable ways and manners that bother on criminal rascality should be regarded as over.

“The purpose of some people at this Election is to hijack ANLCA, but I will only advise them that ANLCA is too big for anybody to hijack, all of us would serve our tenure and leave, if anybody is thinking that ANLCA would be a division of his office, the person is a liar.

“After we have elected our new officers today, we are going to have a thorough retreat because we need reorientation. The manner our officers at the chapters before now have been conducting themselves is nothing to write home about.

“Those that are here to make trouble, let them kill that idea, if anything is going on that you are not comfortable with, we are all here to address it.”

The ANLCA leader enjoined winners to show respect and chivalry  and not neglect to promote the sense of belonging by all members.

“For the winners, you should be magnanimous in victory and know that it is not winner takes all. For the losers, I don’t need to remind you that I have lost election before, it is not the end of time if you lose, maybe it is not yet your turn” he said.

In attendance is the President emeritus, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, ANLCA Patron, Prince Taiye Oyeniyi, Oodua Maritime President, Chief Oye Ariyo.

Board members present at the event includes the chairman, Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha, Sir Earnest Elochukwu, Sunday Momoh, Tunde Awoniyi, Dayo Azeez, Demola Mummuney, Alhaji Sanni Utai, Board Secretary, Kingsley Offor.

Also present were all NECOM members, including Prince Segun Oduntan, Hajia Bola Muse, Olumide Fakanlu, Emmanuel Onyeme, Lekan Salau, Femi Anifowoshe and, Alhaji Idowu Owoade