Anxiety Mounts Over Plans to Rig ANLCA Chapter Elections Tomorrow, Members Allege Voters List Manipulation

By DAPO OLAWUNI

There is palpable tension in the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) over the chapter elections billed to hold tomorrow, Thursday 20th February 2025, as some members of the association have raised alarm over alleged plans by the Association Electoral Committee (ASECO) to rig the election by adding licenses who are not qualified to vote into the final voters list.

The concerned members who spoke with DAILY TREND on condition of anonymity raised concerns that 12hours to the election, the ASECO has refused to come out with the final list of accredited voters list, a total departure from what is usually obtainable in ANLCA during any election.

It was gathered that there is a consensus, which was even released by ASECO after the Board of Trustees election in September, that the voters list used would also be used for the subsequent chapter elections.

Meanwhile, in a chat with DAILY TREND, the Chairman of ASECO, Elochukwu Obiora has dispelled the anxieties, describing the allegations as false.

The ASECO Chairman however admitted that few names would be added to the existing list and those were for members who

“There is nothing like that, the same list would be used for tomorrow election, the only new names that would appear is if there is any contestant who did not participate in the last BOT election

“We agreed that as contestants in this chapter election, haven come this far, and we have verified their licenses from the customs, we agreed that they should be part of the election, and once you are contesting, you can also vote. But they are not much in number” he said

Meanwhile, our correspondent obtained a viral voicenote in which some persons were disclosing intentions to add more names to the already existing voters list through the help of a prominent National Executive Committee (NECOM) member.

According to the voices on the voice note, the major concern is at PTML Chapter where one of the candidates, Mr Adeboje is reportedly having a upper hand and coasting to victory should the existing ASECO voters list be used.

The concerned ANLCA members while speaking with our correspondent on Wednesday said “We were made to understand through a viral voicenote, that there is an attempt to influence this election by adding to the existing voters list.

“We know for certain that at the Northern Zone election, the subsisting Board of Trustees (BOT) voters list that was used in September remains the valid list. That has been the position.

“Yes, our election process or membership renewal is a continuous process. So, many members joined after the BOT election and continued to register and pay their dues. Yes, they became our members, but the privilege of voting has been restricted by the Association Electoral Committee (ASECO) publication.

“Now, there is this possible fear that, with the election imminent, and before ASECO releases the final voters list, there are plans for people who registered afterward to be added.

“This, please note, did not happen in the Northern Zone election. Only the BOT list was used. Only the subsisting BOT list, the final voters list, was used at that time.

“And now, we are told there will be additional voters on this Western Zone list. That will be at variance.

“The constitution empowers ASECO to run electoral protocols as they wish, but in line with the constitution. Regarding membership, the new list, they remain our members, but the privilege of voting requires them to have been a member for one year to vote or be voted for at the chapter.

“ASECO did make a publication during the BOT election in September 2024, stating categorically that the list used for the BOT election shall be used for subsequent elections.

“At Abuja chapter only about four licenses registered for the BOT election. Afterward, close to 30 have registered. But when ASECO went for the Abuja election recently, they insisted on the four-person list.

“They went to Port Harcourt. After the BOT election, over 100 more registered, taking it to about 180 licenses. But they went back to the 82 for the election. So they should do the same for the West. That is the position.

“Some people are trying to say someone will help them to have more votes. And that is what we want to let people know – that there is tension.

“ASECO is trying to use a different list for the Western Zone election, different from what happened in the North and in the East”