By Omotayo Toyeeb
The Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) risks disqualification from the upcoming 8th Triennial National Delegate Conference in Owerri, Imo State, scheduled for November 2024.
This follows its failure to meet the September 24 deadline for the submission of its delegate list to the National Credentials Screening Committee.
The committee, tasked with overseeing the conduct of the election, had set strict guidelines for all state councils to submit their list of delegates by the deadline.
However, the embattled Kwara State Council did not comply, raising doubts over its participation in the national elections.
Sources within the council disclosed that the leadership has not reached out to chapels for the submission of representatives, a departure from the usual practice.
The NUJ constitution mandates each chapel to elect its representative for the delegate list, as stated in Article 5 A(2b)(8)(14). This lapse has caused discontent among chapel leaders, with some accusing the leadership of deliberately stalling the process.
“This is the first time we’re seeing such disregard for the constitution,” lamented a chapel leader who chose to remain anonymous. “It appears the Council wants to exclude some members from participating.”
The number of Kwara’s delegates has been reduced from 21 to 12 following amendments to the NUJ constitution. However, no chapel has elected its representatives for the revised list, leading to fears that the state may be disqualified from the conference.
The crisis within the Kwara NUJ deepened following the controversial election of Abdullateef ‘Lanre Ahmed as Chairman on July 31, 2024.
Allegations of voter manipulation and suppression, substitution of names, and other irregularities have marred the SWC’s legitimacy.
Aggrieved members have since taken the matter to court, challenging the outcome of the election. A verdict against the SWC could see its leadership dissolved, further complicating the issue of delegate selection.
Concerns are also mounting that the embattled Chairman may have already submitted a list of his loyalists as delegates, bypassing the proper process. “We suspect a delegate list has been sent in contravention of the rules,” said a senior union member. “There’s a pattern of constitutional violations since the SWC assumed office.”
The Federal Information Chapel, previously disqualified from presenting delegates at the state level, remains another contentious issue. Some members argue that its reinstatement would undermine the screening process and provide grounds for legal action against the national leadership.
With the Owerri 2024 election fast approaching, the Kwara NUJ is in a precarious situation. Members are left in the dark, awaiting clarification from the National Credentials Screening Committee.
A disqualification would not only diminish Kwara’s voice at the national level but also further tarnish the image of the state council, already beset by internal conflicts and allegations of constitutional breaches.
