The National Industrial Court, Ibadan Judicial Division, has adjourned the case challenging the validity of the recent Kwara State Council election of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to November 20 for the hearing of pending applications.
The case, filed by aggrieved members of the union, contests the legitimacy of the July 31, 2024, election, which they allege was marred by constitutional violations and electoral misconduct.
Respondents in the suit include NUJ National President, Chris Isiguzo; Vice President (North Central), Chris Atsaka; National Secretary, Achike Chude; Kwara State NUJ embattled Chairman, Abdulateef ‘Lanre Ahmed, and Chairman and Secretary of the Kwara NUJ Credentials Committee, Abdulhamid Gbadamosi Alaye and Sulyman Bolaji Gobir, respectively.
During the hearing, Counsel for the claimants, B.D. Asanam confirmed to the court that all parties had been duly served with the originating summons and necessary applications.
The counsel noted several pending applications, including one to join Dare Akogun, a key figure challenging the election results as a party to the suit, and additional statement on oath of a member of the Kwara NUJ Credentials Screening Committee and another to withdraw the first claimant, Fadeyi Babajide, from the suit.
Asanam clarified that Babajide’s withdrawal request applied solely to him, leaving the other applications active.
The defense counsel, M.A. Bello, informed the court that no counter-affidavit had been filed regarding Akogun’s application to join the case, as they initially believed Babajide’s withdrawal would apply to the entire suit.
However, the presiding judge noted that the application for Babajide’s withdrawal was not found in the case records, thereby preventing immediate action on the matter.
The court also clarified that, as the case was scheduled only for mention, the pending applications could not be addressed at this time.
Due to these procedural issues, the court adjourned the case to November 20 for a substantive hearing on the pending applications, including Akogun’s formal addition to the suit.
The plaintiffs, under case number NICN/IL/08/2024, are contesting the legality of the July 31, 2024 election, alleging procedural violations and electoral misconduct.
They claim that the National NUJ Secretariat altered delegate lists without chapel consultation, thereby compromising the election’s integrity.
They are also contesting the legality of the usage of a open ballot system where voters name were written on the ballot papers as opposed to the secret balloting system allowed by the NUJ constitution.
The case has attracted considerable attention, particularly due to allegations by Akogun, who accused electoral officials of accepting inducements, harassment and issuing of threats especially civil servants, an action that he claims influenced the election’s outcome.
Akogun has criticized the election as a “sham” and alleged that harassment and intimidation tactics were used against his supporters.
This matter, however, is not focused on any individual but rather on interpreting specific sections of the union’s constitution and addressing alleged irregularities and breaches during the July 31 election.
Key concerns include the alleged disenfranchisement of members, inclusion of unqualified individuals, and whether the ballot papers used complied with the union’s requirement for a secret ballot system.
The suit ultimately seeks an annulment of the election and an order for a fresh one.
