ANLCA Faction Conducts Election in 5 Western Zone Chapters

By ZION Olalekan

The Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha led faction of the Board of Trustees of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has conducted elections into five Western Zone chapters including Apapa, Tin Can, PTML, Seme and KLT chapters.

Nigeriamaritime360.com however recalls that executives of the five chapters were suspended on Monday by the National Executives of ANLCA at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja.

But despite the suspension, the National Publicity Secretary of ANLCA, Mr. Joe Sanni in a statement sent to our correspondent disclosed that the election which was conducted was coming few weeks to the end of the mandate of the executives of the chapter and in accordance with the provisions of the supreme constitution of ANLCA.

The election was held on Wednesday, 19th December 2018 at the Villa Park Hotel & Suites, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.

The elections was conducted by the reconstituted Association Electoral Commission (ASECO), led by Chief Obi Chima, with Secretary as Asiwaju Bolade Oladipo and five other members who were inaugurated on Tuesday by the Board of Trustees (BOT) led by Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha.

The ASECO adopted the option of A4 procedure which involves the voters queuing behind their preferred candidates and counted to conduct the elections, chapter by chapter.

According to Mr. Joe Sanni, “The elections turned out very orderly, transparent and peaceful, to the admiration and satisfaction of members of ANLCA that thronged the venue of the elections, from as far away Chapters as Seme and from other Chapter Chairmen”

A breakdown of the results from Seme Border showed that Barr. Bisiriyu Lasisi Fanu won with 59 votes; Vice Chairman – Abioye T. Wasiu, 59 votes; Secretary- Obatayo Kehinde, 59 votes;Financial Secretary- Okunola Abdulateef Taiwo, 59 votes & Treasurer-Alahji Abagana Zubair Mele, 59 votes.

At MMIAirport Chapter, Chairmanship was won by the sole candidate – Akindele Pius Temitope with 25 votes.

At KLT chapter, Chairman- Goddy Sewa Soleji won with 20 votes, Secretary-Abayomi Ajibola, Assistant Secretary- Udeze Paulinus, and Treasurer-Kayode Ajayi, all with 20 votes each.

At PTML chapter, Chairman- Elder Obe Samuel won with 38 votes, Vice Chairman- Sunday Davies Nwarinne, Secretary- Babatunde Adekoya, Financial Secretary- Ademola Omoniyi, Publicity Secretary – Sulaimon Ayokunle, Treasurer- Kayode Ajayi and Assistant Secretary- Sunny Ugorji, all winning with equal number of 38 votes each.

Apapa chapter saw Chief Dom Onyeka winning the chairmanship with 39 votes, Vice Chairman- Femi Olawore , Secretary- Awonuga Olatunde, Treasurer-Abidemi Aberejo and Financial Secretary- Emmanul Okoli, all with 39 votes each, while the PRO- Emeka Chukwumalu and Assistant Secretary- Edeigba Thomas won with 38 votes each.

Announcing the results, Chairman of ASECO, Chief Obi Chima thanked both the contestants and voters for their orderliness and cooperation with ASECO, and wishing the winners, on behalf of ASECO a successful tenure. Chief Obi Chima also thanks the BOT for giving them the opportunity to serve the association.

During the inauguration ceremony, the Zonal Coordinator West, Sir John DanKatsina Ofobike administered the oath of office on the winners of the election and were issued with certificates of return by the Chairman, BOT-Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha, who seized the opportunity to thank members of ANLCA for their patience, apologized to the entire membership for the trouble they have gone through, because of the timely non-resolution of the BOT Chairmanship crisis, allegedly prolonged by the immediate past Chairman of the Board of Trustees – Chief Henry Njoku.

Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha seized the opportunity to reveal how the Board elections were conducted, how Chief Njoku was roundly defeated (5 votes for Alhaji Mustapha, 2 votes for Chief Njoku & 1 member abstained) and how Njoku refused to surrender the Chairmanship.

Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha also revealed how he painstakingly over several months, tried to persuade Chief Njoku to relinquish the Chairmanship to no avail, until the other BOT members’ patience ran out

Alhaji Mustapha who challenged the newly inaugurated executives to rise up to solve their members’ operational challenges and ensure they defend the mandates just given to them freely, physically and transparently, charged ANLCA members to support the BOT to salvage it from the low it has presently sunk.

Speaking in the same vein, former National President and member BOT- Chief Ernest Elochukwu thanked members of ANLCA in the Western Zone, for massively turning out to participate and witness the election. Again, he thanked members for the patience and understanding during the pendency of the BOT crisis, promising that it shall never happen again, as they embark on facing the fallouts of the Board’s efforts.