We cannot recognise two executives in Oyo – NAWOJ secretariat warns

The national secretariat of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) on Saturday disclosed that it cannot recognise two parallel executives of the association in Oyo State.

NAWOJ National Secretary, Comrade Helen Udofia, made this disclosure while speaking on Political Circuit, a programme aired by Ibadan-based radio station, Fresh FM and monitored by DAILY POST on Saturday morning.

Our correspondent recalls that the inauguration of the new executive of NAWOJ was done by representatives of its national secretariat on Thursday in Ibadan.

The new executive inaugurated had Jadesola Ajibola as Chairperson, Seyi Bamidele as Vice Chairperson, Stella Oyebanji as Secretary and Peju Oyelakin as Treasurer.

It was however gathered that some members who were not comfortable with the decision of the committee that screened the contestants, went ahead to inaugurate another executive the same day.

The national leadership of the association in its reaction has said that it can only recognise the executive where its representatives were present.

Udofia, who spoke on behalf of NAWOJ National President, Comrade Ladi Bala, said that it can only recognise the executive led by Jadesola Ajibola.

She explained that the aggrieved members who went ahead to inaugurate themselves were disqualified because they did not meet the requirements to contest the election.

Udofia, who noted that the NAWOJ election is guided by article six (6) of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) constitution, explained that like every other organization, NAWOJ activities, including its election are guided by the constitution.

She expressed disappointment over the request by the Oyo NUJ Chairman and some members of the union that the NAWOJ national body should set aside the constitution in order to allow those disqualified by the screening committee to contest the election.

While speaking on the report submitted by the Credential Committee led by Comrade Morenike Esan, Udofia said cases of all those who were disqualified were looked into and NAWOJ National Secretariat upheld the decision of the credential committee because the decision was in line with the constitution of the union.

“I was working with the documents submitted to me by the credential committee. We can do elections anywhere provided we are following the constitution. The national officers were there to supervise the election.

“The officers that the national officers inaugurated are the ones we recognised. Those are the ones we recognised because they were the ones we inaugurated. That is why we are calling every other member to come on board.

“We found out that some of those disqualified did not have 50 percent attendance. Out of 24 attendance, one of them has just eight, and such one wants to contest the election. How will she lead an association where she does not attend meetings,” she said.

“Some do not pay annual dues to the union, while another one has no professional qualification. So, we are guided by the constitution as an association. Just like the INEC, if a candidate must contest the election, there are guidelines he or she must meet to qualify for the election.

“And if any one of the committee members is not qualified to serve on the committee, it is right there in the Congress that objection would be raised. At what point did she stop attending meetings, and stop paying the association’s annual dues, since the constitution states clearly that dues must be paid up to date”.