The Industrial Court has reassigned the case concerning alleged electoral manipulation in the Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to the Ibadan Judicial Division.
The case, originally set to be heard in Abuja, will now proceed in Ibadan, Oyo State, with a hearing scheduled for October 29, 2024.
National NUJ leaders, including President Chris Isiguzo, Vice President (North Central) Chris Atsaka, and National Secretary , Achike Chude, along with Kwara State Council embattled Chairman Abdulateef ‘Lanre Ahmed and Credentials Committee members, Badamosi Abdul-Hameed Alaiye and Sulaiman Jimoh Gobir, are named as respondents.
The case, brought by aggrieved Kwara Council members, challenges the credibility of the July 31, 2024 election, alleging it was marred by constitutional violations and fraud.
In the lawsuit, numbered NICN/IL/08/2024, the plaintiffs are seeking an order to suspend any further NUJ elections until the case is resolved.
They are also pushing for the annulment of the July 31st election, claiming that the National Secretariat unconstitutionally altered the delegate list without consulting the chapels involved.
The petition, filed by Barrister Issa Manzuma, references a 2022 ruling in a similar NUJ election dispute, where the National Industrial Court ruled that the National Executive lacked the authority to disqualify candidates unilaterally.
Abdullahi Dare Akogun, a key candidate in the disputed election, has criticized the results, describing the process as a “shambolic and kangaroo” election.
Akogun alleges financial inducements influenced electoral officials, security personnel, and voters and claims that printed voters’ identities on ballot papers compromised the principle of secret balloting.
He also accuses the National Secretariat of ignoring major concerns raised about the election’s neutrality and fairness.
Akogun also alleged intimidation and harassment of his co-claimants and lawyer by an ally of the defendants.
In an August 3 letter to the Central Working Committee (CWC), Akogun documented various alleged constitutional breaches, claiming that many eligible members were unfairly excluded by a manipulated delegate list and that a Director in the State Ministry of Information issued threats, suggesting that votes could be traced.
Allegations of voter list manipulation, disenfranchisement, and alleged inducements expose significant issues in the NUJ’s electoral process, posing questions about transparency and governance within the union.
If the court rules in favour of the plaintiffs, it could set a new precedent for electoral reform within the NUJ, emphasizing stricter adherence to electoral procedures and constitutional protocols across all state councils, most especially the forthcoming National Delegates’ Conference in Owerri next month.
Moreover, Akogun’s emphasis on the importance of secret balloting and fair representation aligns with core democratic values that the NUJ advocates for as a journalistic body. The outcome of this case could have lasting implications, shaping the integrity and credibility of future NUJ elections nationwide.
