The national leadership of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, on Saturday insisted that the election of the Comrade Jadesola Ajibola-led executive to lead To State chapter of the association remained irreversible.
Making this clarification while speaking on an Ibadan, Oyo State-based radio station, Fresh FM, tagged: ‘The NAWOJ Imbroglio: As The Light Goes Dim,’ and anchored by Isaac Brown, the National Secretary of NAWOJ, Comrade Helen Udofia, noted that NAWOJ election is guided by Article 6 of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Constitution, explaining that like every other organization, NAWOJ activities, including its election, are guided by the constitution.
She expressed bewilderment over the request by the Chairman of the Oyo State Council of the NUJ and some elders of the association that NAWOJ national body should set aside the constitution, to allow those disqualified by the screening committee to contest the election.
Comrade Udofia further explained that the request by the Oyo State Council of the NUJ and some elders was turned down because the new leadership of Comrade Ladi Bala would not do anything unconstitutional, insisting that the current leadership of NAWOJ is not only different, but highly committed to upholding the constitution and on that it will stand.
Commenting on the report submitted by the Credential Committee, led by Comrade Morenike Esan, Comrade Udofia said cases of all disqualified aspirants were looked into, and it was discovered that they never measure up to the provisions of the constitution.
She said, “We found out that some of those disqualified did not have 50 per cent attendance. Out 24 attendances, one of them has just eight, and such one wants to contest election. How will she lead an association where she doesn’t attend meetings?
“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 Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, if a candidate must contest election, there are guidelines he or she must meet to qualify for the election.”
She added that it was the congress that appointed members of the Screening Committee, “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.”
The NAWOJ National Secretary, while answering question on the eligibility of members of the Screening Committee, explained that it would be wrong for anyone to raise objection after the committee members have taken oath and assumed duty.
On the disqualification of the then incumbent Treasurer, Comrade Udofia asked, “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?”
While answering question on why the national officers who came to Ibadan conducted the inauguration of the Comrade Jadesola Ajibola-led executive council outside the Oyo State NUJ Secretariat on Thursday, the NAWOJ National Secretary asked, “Why did the NUJ holds its delegates conference outside its National Secretariat?”
She explained that there was nothing absolutely wrong in administering oath of office outside the association’s secretariat, adding that what really matters is the presence of national officers to supervise the election.
According to her, the only recognized NAWOJ executive in Oyo State is the Jadesola Ajibola-led exco.
She, however, urged all aggrieved members of the association in Oyo State to put aside their grievances, and joined hands with the Jadesola Ajibola-led executive to move the association to greater heights.
