ANLCA 2023: Oodua Maritime Group Demands Adherence To Constitutional Guidelines

BY GBOGBOWA GBOWA

Ahead of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) upcoming election slated for July 5, 2023, the Oodua Logistics Association, otherwise popularly known as the Oodua Maritime Forum has charged stakeholders in the ANLCA family to submit themselves to the association’s constitutional provisions in the conduct of the election.

The Forum National President, Chief Aroba Oye Ariyo in a letter addressed to the Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) sighted by our reporter, warned that the group will not allow interested parties, no matter how highly placed or connected, be he a contestant, umpire, voter or supporter to act contrary to the dictate of the electoral laws as enshrined in the Association Electoral Committee (ASECO) and as duly constituted by the Board of Trustees (BoT).

The letter titled OBSERVATION/EXPRESSION ON ANLCA 2023 NATIONAL ELECTION written on June 26, 2023, Oodua Maritime Forum observed that for equity, fairness and objectivity, the 2023 election should be held in the South West Zone since all previous elections have been done in the South East Zone.

The group further observed that anything shot of the due process and transparency in the forthcoming election will not be supported and allowed by it.

The letter reads: “We hereby formally bring to your attention our observation and way forward on ANLCA come 2023 National Election as follows:

1. ANLCA Election scheduled to hold in July 2023 must be conducted and contested strictly according to the provision of the constitution of the Association and the Association Electoral Committee’s guidelines as it is. We shall vehemently see any of such plans (been twisted) as a ploy to rig the elections in favour of some candidates.
2. The appointment of members of the Association Electoral Committee (ASECO) must be strictly done in line with set standards. They must have current license with no exceptions.

• The BOT of the Association saddled with the responsibility to supervise the elections must be currently licensed by customs as well.

1. We vehemently oppose the notion of taking this 2023 elections to the East as several previous elections were held in the East. Hence, we urge Association Electoral Committee to consider Lagos or any other part in West for NECOM elections to enable larger participants by voters and members.

“While we pledge our full support and readiness to ensure smooth election process, the above demands are necessity so as to prevent any unwanted situation in the entire process”, he opined.

Meanwhile a number of stakeholders who have aligned with the position of the Oodua Maritime Forum even as they urged ANLCA members to unite against every divisive forces intent on deploying tactics and or actions that are not in keeping with the interests of the association, the electoral guidelines or the constitution of the association, as a whole.

This is even as others have called on the Chairman of the BoT, Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha and his members to be alive to their responsibility and to firm charge by ensuring that ASECO respects the rules of engagement in line with the dictates of the electoral guidelines and laws of the assocviation.

Reacting to the Oodua Maritime Forum letter, a chieftain of the association who does not want his name in print said, “The oracle have spoken, we are now waiting for the next line of action from the board.”