ANLCA Holds Successful Election At Four Western Zone Chapters, Declares Apapa Inconclusive

—Wale Cole Scores Landslide Victory At Tin Can Port

—Emenike Declares Retreat, Reorientation for new Chapter Excos

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) on Thursday concluded elections into four chapters of its Western Zone, even as the one for Apapa chapter has been declared Inconclusive by the Association Electoral Committee (ASECO)
The chapters which had successful elections were; Tin Can Island Port chapter, PTML Chapter, KLT Chapter and Seme Border Chapter.

However, in a rowdy and intriguing vote counting session, the Apapa chapter election was declared Inconclusive by the ASECO.
Our correspondent who witnessed the electioneering process late into the night, reported that, there were controversies around the total number of accredited voters declared by ASECO before voting at Apapa, which is 108.

However during vote counting, the ASECO mysteriously announced the list would be increased to 125, so as to accommodate BOT and NECOM members whom were not captured in the earlier 108 figure.
This announcement led to a brief rowdiness within the hall, which subsequently led to the BOT led by Chairman, Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha declaring Apapa chapter Inconclusive.

The election was however generally peaceful, free and fair devoid of any rancour, even as the two contestants for Chairmanship at Apapa chapter, Emeka Chukwumalu and Femi Olawore conducted their members with utmost decorum, despite the Inconclusivity of the chapter election.

The vote counting afterwards moved go Tin Can Island Port chapter where prominent contestant, Wale Cole, humiliated his opponent, Seyi Faturoti with a landslide victory of 105 votes to 6 votes.

Apart from Wale Cole, other executive officers who emerged at Tin Can chapter are; Soniel Onochie scoring 78 votes over Odera Innocent’s 30 vote to emerge Vice Chairman, Franky Paul defeated immrdiate past Secretary of the chapter, Michael Ovien by 66 votes to 46.
Two candidates emeged unopposed at the Tin Can port, these are; Yetunde Ilori as Treasurer and Sunanna Ogunwunmi as Financial Secretary.

For Assistant Secretary position, Addulwasiu Muyideen lost after scoring 38 votes, Ijigade Temitope won by 71 votes.
For Public Relations Officer, Onome Monije emerged winner with 72 votes while her opponent, Ogunrinola Michael polled 38 votes.

At PTML Chapter, only the position of Chairman and Secretary were contested for while other posts were returned unopposed.
After the polls, Charles Sunday Nwaneri emerged Chairman of the chapter with 45 votes, defeating Waheed Adeboje who scores 20 votes.
For Secretary of the chapter, Ayokunle Sulaiman, Special Assistant to the ANLCA National President on Media, scored 43 votes to defeat his opponent, Chigokie Daniel who scored 21 votes.

Other executives of PTML Chapter are; Babatunde Adekoya as Vice Chairman, Chijioke Daniel as Secretary, Balogun Sherifat as Assistant Secretary, Adeyemi Haastrup as Treasurer, Sunday Ugeji as Financial Secretary, and Francis Anderson as Public Relations Officer.

Earlier at Seme Chapter, all the candidates were returned unopposed. They are; Wasiu Toyin Abioye as Chairman, Zabairo Ajamat Vice chairman, Austen Nwosu as Secretary, Segun Joseph as Treasurer, Rasaq Ibrahim as Financial Secretary and Okunola Akeem Taiwo as Public Relations Officer.

At KLT Chapter, Chibuzo Ogamba stepped down from Chairmanship race shortly before voting commenced, hence making Ahmed Olajide Bello the elected Chairman of KLT Chapter unopposed.

Other executive members of KLT Chapter includes; Adetola Adesanya as Secretary, Absulsalam Ademola Wasiu as Assistant Secretary, Kayode Ajayi as Treasurer, Ariyo Bunmi Grace as Financial Secretary.

Speaking earlier, ANLCA National President, Emenike Nwokeoji admonished the members, saying that “In every election, there are bound to be hiccups, but I appreciate your patience today.

“Election period often comes with tension, it is an opportunity for us to select leaders that would guide us and lead us for a period.

“When you people elected us into office, we assured that we were going to provide levelled playing ground, so that the leaders that would emerge would be legal, and today we have the opportunity of choosing our leaders in the open, so that anything that you feel is going wrong, you can quickly point it out.

“The purpose of some people at this Election is to hijack ANLCA, but I will only advise them that ANLCA is too big for anybody to hijack, all of us would serve our tenure and leave, if anybody is thinking that ANLCA would be a division of his office, the person is a liar.

“After we have elected our new officers today, we are going to have a thorough retreat because we need reorientation. The manner our officers at the chapters before now have been conducting themselves is nothing to wrote home about.

“Those that are here to make trouble, let them kill that idea, if anything is going on that you are not comfortable with, we are all here to address it.

“For the winners, you should be magnanimous in victory and know that it is not winner takes all. For the loosers, I don’t need to remind you that I have lost election before, it is not the end of time if you loose, maye it is not yet your turn” he said.

The election was witnessed by bigwigs in the association, including its former President emeritus, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, ANLCA Patron, Prince Taiye Oyeniyi, Oodua Maritime President, Chief Oye Ariyo.

BOT members present includes; Sunday Momoh, Tunde Awoniyi, Dayo Azeez, Demola Mummuney, Sir Earnest Elochukwu, Alhaji Sanni Utai, BoT Chairman, Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha and his Secretary, Kingsley Offor.
Also present were all NECOM members, Prince Segun Oduntan, Hajia Bola Muse, Olumide Fakanlu, Emmanuel Onyeme, Lekan Salau, Western Zone Chairman, Femi Anifowoshe and his Secretary, Alhaji Idowu Owoade.