Credentials Committee

As the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) prepares for its 8th Triennial National Delegate Conference in Owerri, Imo State, slated for November 2024, the Kwara State Council faces significant challenges that may lead to its exclusion from the election. The Kwara Council has reportedly failed to meet the September 24, 2024, deadline set by the National Credentials Screening Committee for the submission of delegate names, raising concerns about their participation.

The committee, responsible for overseeing the election process, had issued guidelines mandating State Councils to submit their list of delegates by the specified deadline. However, as of now, the Kwara State Council has not submitted the names of its Chapel representatives who are supposed to form part of the State’s delegate list.

According to sources within the Kwara NUJ, the Council leadership has not contacted Chapels to submit names for the delegate list, which is a departure from past practice. The NUJ’s amended Constitution stipulates that each Chapel must elect a representative to form part of the State’s delegates to the National Conference, as outlined in Article 5 A(2b)(8)(14), with Section 14 specifically emphasizing this requirement.

Chapel leaders who spoke to this medium expressed their frustration, stating that the Council ‘s failure to request Chapel representatives is unprecedented. “It seems like the Council is deliberately ignoring the process,” said one Chapel leader. This development has raised alarm, as it could result in the disqualification of the Kwara State delegates from voting in the upcoming election in Owerri.

Kwara’s delegate list has been significantly reduced from the previous 21 delegates to just 12, as stipulated by the Union’s amended Constitution. Since Chapels did not elect their delegates in time, the entire State may miss the opportunity to participate in the National election, potentially marginalizing the Council’s influence on the outcome.

An investigation across various Chapels in the State revealed that the embattled State Working Committee (SWC) has not made any effort to engage Chapel leaders for the submission of delegate names, despite the constitutional requirement. This has intensified the growing sense of unease among NUJ members in the State. Some attribute the Council’s inaction to the challenges faced by the interim SWC, which is currently battling a legal case challenging its victory in the controversial Kwara NUJ election held on July 31, 2024.

The election, marred by allegations of manipulation, has left the SWC in a precarious position. Aggrieved members of the union have accused the electoral committee and the National body, headed by NUJ President Chris Isiguzo, of substituting the names of eligible voters with unqualified members, disenfranchising many, and inscribing voter identities on ballot papers; actions that have fueled claims of election fraud. A court ruling against the SWC could lead to the ousting of the current leadership, a prospect that has further destabilized the Council.

Speculation is rife that the embattled Council Chairman, Abdullateef ‘Lanre Ahmed, may have secretly handpicked loyalists from each Chapel to serve as delegates, bypassing the proper electoral process. Some members alleged that Ahmed’s loyalists could be instructed to vote for his preferred candidates at the national level to protect his seat, while others believe the Chairman is actively working to undermine Mallam Mustafa Abubakar, Kwara State’s only candidate contesting for Auditor in the National election, who hails from the opposing camp.

“There’s a possibility that the Chairman has submitted a delegate list in violation of the Union’s Constitution,” said a senior member of the Council. “He’s been violating the Union’s rules since his controversial victory in July, including suspending members without following due process.”

Another point of contention is the status of the Federal Information Chapel, which was previously disqualified from presenting delegates at the State Triennial Delegate Conference. Some members believe that reinstating the Chapel for National election would expose inconsistencies in the disqualification process, potentially aiding the Court case against the National leadership. The inclusion or exclusion of the Federal Information Chapel could have a ripple effect on the credibility of the screening process for delegates across the country.

As the election date approaches, members of the Kwara NUJ are left in a state of uncertainty, awaiting the final list of eligible voters to be posted by the National Credentials Screening Committee. As of now, members of the Kwara NUJ Council are anxiously waiting for the Credentials Screening Committee to publish the list of eligible voters. “We are all in the dark,” one member said. “Until we see the list, we won’t know what to do next.”

The situation has created a tense atmosphere within the Kwara NUJ, with members expressing disappointment in the leadership’s handling of the delegate process. If the Council’s delegates are ultimately disqualified, it will not only affect Kwara’s representation at the National level but also further tarnish the image of the State Council, which is already grappling with internal strife and allegations of Constitution violation.

The unfolding crisis has thrown the Kwara Council into disarray, with many fearing that their exclusion from the Owerri 2024 election could be the result of internal sabotage and political maneuvering. The coming weeks will be critical as the Council grapples with its internal divisions and attempts to navigate the path toward representation in the National Union’s most important election.