Fraud Allegations Mar Kwara NUJ Election as Candidate Challenges Outcome
Abdullahi Dare Akogun, a chairmanship candidate in the recent Kwara State Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) election, has formally lodged a complaint with the Central Working Committee (CWC) of the union.
Akogun is calling for the nullification of the election results and the intervention of the State Executive Council (SEC) to oversee the council’s affairs until a new election can be conducted.
Akogun’s complaint, detailed in a letter dated August 3rd 2024 and addressed to the CWC through the National Secretary, cites multiple violations of the NUJ Constitution, including allegations of fraud and irregularities during the council election held on July 31, 2024.
In his letter, Akogun asserts that the inclusion of voters’ identities, such as chapel affiliations, names, and serial numbers on the ballot papers, severely compromised the principle of a secret ballot.l guaranteed by the NUJ constitution, this, he argues, undermined the integrity and fairness of the electoral process.
Akogun also claimed that many bona fide and financial members were excluded from participating in the election through a doctored delegates’ list.
This alleged disenfranchisement reportedly affected members from the correspondent chapel, federal and state information chapels, and the Unilorin chapel, raising serious concerns about the credibility of the voters’ list.
He also alleges that a Director in the state ministry of information ( name withheld ) threatened voters, particularly civil servants, with job loss if they did not vote for a particular candidate, asserting that their votes could be traced back to them.
In his appeal Akogun invoked Article 5, Section 10, and Article 7, Section 2(vi) of the NUJ Constitution, which allow aggrieved candidates to challenge election outcomes within 21 days, after which if not satisfied can approach a competent court of law
He urged the committee to review these issues dispassionately and take necessary actions to ensure justice and fairness in the electoral process.
Mr Lanre Ahmed of Herald Chapel had been declared winner in the keenly contested election held in Ilorin.
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