…may lose his position
The immediate past President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, and runner up in last year’s NUJ Presidential election Waheed Odusile has gone to court to reclaim his mandate citing that the winner, Chris Isiguzo wasn’t qualified to contest for the election.
In a suit filed at the Industrial Court, Abuja, Odusile through his Counsel Barr. Okeke Obinna D. is asking to be declared winner of the October 4-5th 2018 election, on the ground that Chris Isiguzo does not have the requisite qualification to contest the election.
Odusile in Suit No.NICN/ABJ/312 is seeking a declaration that Chris Isiguzo is not a qualified and not a valid member of NUJ and therefore was not qualified to have contested or be voted for in the said election.
He is also asking the court to declare that neither Chris Isinguzo Ikechukwu C, Isinguzoro Ikechukwu C, nor Isinguzoro Ikechukwu Christopher contested the NUJ election.
The former president is further seeking amongst other things; A declaration that he (the claimant) and not the Defendant was duly elected as the National President of NUJ in the election of October 4-5th 2018.
A perpetual injunction restraining the defendant from parading himself as the National President of NUJ forthwith and an order mandating the defendant to vacate the official office of the National President of NUJ at the NUJ National Headquarters, Mabushi, Abuja-FCT and hand over same to the Claimant.
An order for the Claimant to be sworn-in as the National President of NUJ with immediate effect and to take over the official office of NUJ National President.
A declaration that the tenure of the Claimant shall take effect from the date the Claimant takes oath of office.
The qualifications of Chris Isiguzo has been enmeshed in controversy before and during the last NUJ National election.
The NUJ Credentials verification committee it was reported, failed to to act on the series of petitions from one Felicia Agbo alleging forgery by Isiguzo.
The suit is coming on the heels of a raging crisis sparked off by the recently held National election of Sports Writers Association, SWAN, which has split the union into two.
The Sports Writers Association has long severed it’s affiliation to the NUJ.
