New ANLCA executive debunks imposition of sole administrator

Newly elected officials of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) Chapter have said claims that a sole administrator would be appointed to run the affairs of association from Monday January 14, 2019, were false and misleading. This reaction is coming against the backdrop of an impending crisis in the association where some disgruntled elements are allegedly out to scuttle the process that has brought in the new executives. Chairman-elect of the ANLCA, Mr Temitope Pius Akindele, who spoke on this development at Lagos airport stated that there is no precendent in the association’s constitution and such rumoured misinformation should be regarded as an empty threat. Akindele said that any person or group of persons, touting such idea is spreading mere rumour, making empty threat because any attempt to appoint a sole administration to run affairs of the association, after an election has been duly contested, won and certificate of return issued by the electoral body to the winner, is illegal because it does not have backing of the association’s constitution. The term of office of the incumbent administration of ANLCA at Murtala Muhammed Airport Chapter led by Chief Aloysius Nze Sunday, January 13, 2019 and a new administration of elected members under the leadership of Akindele is expected to take over by Monday January 14, 2019. Akindele said, “It was well-known fact that Western zone of our association was due for elections. We have nine chapters in the western zone. And the body that is charged with the responsibilities of conducting the elections is the board of trustees. The board of trustees would appoint an Association of Electoral Commission (ASECO)to conduct the elections”. He said that ASECO called for elections as scheduled, and since he had the intention to contest elections to the office of the Chairman of Murtala Muhammed Chapter of ANCLA based on his antecedents, he obtained the form to contest the election from ASECO. The renowned clearing agent said he went through the screenings and election was held and he came out victoriously, because people voted for him. He continued, “The certificate of return was issued to me by the electoral body. The copy is with me. Successfully, election was called for, I went to contest at the election, won the election and a certificate of return was issued and presented to me. “The fact is this, there is nowhere, from section one to section thirty-three of our supreme constitution, which specifies that a sole administrator should be appointed. The elected have to come out for elected offices. It is normal that when elections are held, there could be grievances from one person or the other. By the special grace of God, the term of office of the seated chairman will terminate on January 13, 2019. A certificate has been given to me to occupy that very seat come January 14, 2019, that is, on Monday. So there is nothing like interim or appointment of a sole administrator to run the affairs of the association at Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) Chapter. Absolutely there is nothing of such. I am the duly elected chairman for MMA chapter of ANCLA from January 14, 2019 onward. No contention. I have not heard, learnt or witnessed any grievances anywhere against my election. It must be a rumour and there is nothing of such in our association. We don’t have issue with anybody, we are one and there is no crisis. Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo