The recently re-elected Chairman of Kwara State’s NUJ, Abdullateef ‘Lanre Ahmed, has swiftly shut down the viral rumors questioning the legitimacy of his victory in the August elections. Ahmed emphatically denied any wrongdoing, stressing that the election was conducted with the utmost integrity and without any irregularities or malpractices.
Speaking at the official launch of Kwara Express—a media platform striving to pioneer a fresh, solution-oriented approach to journalism—Chairman ‘Lanre Ahmed proudly proclaimed that his re-election was a resounding affirmation of his popularity amongst NUJ members. ‘My victory during the state triennial conference also serves as a testament to the positive regard that the NUJ holds for me,’ Ahmed stated, confident in the legitimacy of his election.
Ahmed continued by saying his simplicity, humility, sincerity of purpose and accessibility, which endeared him to members of the union in the state gave him the victory. He reiterated to maintain and improve on the good qualities that attracted him to members so that the popularity he enjoys among them will not wane.
During the event, one of the commentators, Comrade Saliu Berkindo Bolakale, delicately alluded to ‘Lanre Ahmed’s election victory as a contentious and contested win, even though the Chairman had been adamant in dismissing such claims. Bolakale’s remarks served as a gentle reminder of the simmering debates surrounding the election, hinting at the fact that not everyone may have been convinced by Ahmed’s assurance that the process was fair and above board.
“My re-election with a landslide victory and in a peaceful atmosphere should not take you, (or anyone else) by surprise, judging by my acceptability and popularity amongst our members and beyond. It also an indication that I achieved remarkable success in my first tenure. These, no doubt, endeared my person to our members and were largely responsible for my resounding success in the re-election exercise. The results are there; anybody with keen interest can fact-check it. It was a resounding victory”, Ahmed ‘Lanre noted.
During his remarks, Chairman Ahmed ‘Lanre called upon the Executive Director of Kwara Express, Basheer Luqman Olarewaju anipr, and his team to maintain their dedication to objectivity and impartiality in their journalistic endeavors. He offered his well-wishes and prayers, hoping that the project would flourish beyond all expectations.
Following the aftermath of the elections, the defeated candidate, Abdullahi Dare Akogun, spoke out against what he believed to be a rigged and unfair electoral process. Contending that the integrity of the elections had been compromised, Akogun voiced his grievance publicly, calling for the annulment of the results and the involvement of the State Executive Council to manage the NUJ’s affairs until a fresh, unbiased election could be arranged.
In a letter dated August 3, 2024, and addressed to the CWC through the National Secretary, Akogun detailed multiple violations of the NUJ Constitution, alleging fraud and irregularities during the council election held on July 31, 2024.
Akogun’s complaint revolved around the inclusion of voters’ identities, such as chapel affiliations, names, and serial numbers on the ballot papers. He noted that it severely compromised the principle of a secret ballot guaranteed by the NUJ Constitution, thus undermining the integrity and fairness of the electoral process.
Furthermore, Akogun argued that many bona fide and financial members were excluded from participating in the election through a doctored delegates’ list.
This alleged disenfranchisement reportedly affected members from the correspondent chapel, federal and state information chapels, and the Unilorin chapel, raising serious concerns about the credibility of the voters’ list.
In his letter, he also alleged that a certain director in the state Ministry of Information threatened voters, particularly civil servants, with job loss if they did not vote for a particular candidate, asserting that their votes could be traced back to them.
