Protest erupts as NAWOJ FCT election ends in fracas

Saturday’s election of executives into vacant positions of the Abuja chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) ended up in fracas.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the NAWOJ election was subsequently postponed sine dine.

The postponement comes on the heels of confusion over modalities not properly set out by the credentials committee setup for the election.

It was gathered that the confusion stemmed from the inability of the committee to decide if the identity card (ID) of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) or office ID with evidence of payment of dues should be used for the conduct of the election.

The indecisiveness of the credentials committee on Saturday resulted in protest at the NUJ FCT Council venue of the election.

A source, who refused to be named, fingered Chairman of NUJ FCT Council, Mr Patrick Osadebamwen, of interfering with the NAWOJ election.

“We came out for this election today and what we are hearing is not palatable. It is unfortunate what happened here today.

“There are some persons who want to impose their will on us but we will resist any attempt from any quarter or any person, who wants to temper with the process of us getting new executives for NAWOJ FCT.

“They are saying we should follow the constitution. Where was the constitution when the credentials committee cleared an aspirant that was not qualified.

“The constitution stated that a person vying for any position in NAWOJ must possess a minimum of Diploma in Journalism to qualify as a journalist. They want to quote the constitution when it is convenient for them?

“There are precedents. NAWOJ conducted a national election very recently. NUJ ID card was not used for the election. What changed if not for persons who have ulterior motives to destroy NAWOJ FCT,” the source queried.

NAWOJ members who were present for the election stressed that the new system would disenfranchise members.

Reacting, Josephine Bitrus, a member of the association said: “The credentials committee chairman told us of the new development of the new directive from the National Secretariat of NAWOJ to use NUJ ID card.

“We disagreed because it was not used during the NAWOJ national delegate conference.

“We agreed at the just concluded congress when the executives were dissolved to use office ID cards and dues as evidence of payment for accreditation.

“We are tired of double standards; let NAWOJians have their own mind, we don’t want to be manipulated, it is enough!!!,” she said.

Similarly, Stella Okoh-Esene, former Chairperson, FCT Chapter, said: “We all agreed at the just concluded congress this morning that dissolved the executives, but the Vice President of our zone, Mrs Chizoba Ogbeche, said we should use NUJ ID card.

“We disagreed because many people applied and have not been given the cards and they want to disenfranchise some from voting,” she said.

However, Mrs Dorcas John, the Chairman, FCT Credential Committee, while addressing members, said the directive was from the National President, NAWOJ, Hajiya Aisha Bura.

“The National President said we should put this election on hold since we are not using the NUJ ID card,” she said.

Meanwhile, the National Secretariat of NAWOJ, has in a letter addressed to Chizoba Ogbeche, VP Zone D, ordered the credentials committee to put the election on hold.

The letter signed by Wasilah Ladan, the National Secretary of NAWOJ, stated that a new date, time and venue would be communicated for the conduct of the election.

The letter reads: “The National Secretariat of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) writes to inform the  FCT chapter of NAWOJ, Zone D VP and the credentials committee to put FCT NAWOJ election on hold for now.

“Time, date and venue of the election will be communicated to relevant stakeholders”.

Meanwhile, a caretaker committee has been inaugurated to oversee NAWOJ FCT in the interim.