The highly anticipated battle for the chairmanship of the Central Association of Nigerians, in the United Kingdom, CANUK, takes place at the Nigerian High Commission, on Saturday morning, during the organisation’s Annual General Meeting, AGM. Though not really a battle of the sexes, but the contest will be between two male aspirants and a female candidate.
The duo of Dr. Boma Douglas (Nigerian Engineering Forum) and Tunde Loye (Association of African Insurance Professionals) are up against Ronke Udofia of the Nigerian Women in Diaspora Leadership Forum (NWDLF), in a secret ballot election, to be presided over by a four-man committee that includes the Mayor of Lambeth, Councillor Ade Aminu and a representative of the High Commission. Former Enfield Mayor, Councillor Kate Anolue and 2014 National Conference delegate, Pa Adebayo Oladimeji are also part of the electoral committee.
Interestingly, Udofia has taken the battle to her opponents. All three doing routine campaigns and soliciting for votes, including through social media, held a special programme dubbed: “Nigerians Joining Hands in the UK,” at the Hilton Hotel, Canary Wharf, on Wednesday night. Udofia’s campaign is dubbed “3Es” – Empowering, Energising and Engaging the Nigerian community. Unsurprisingly, she sold it to attendees at the hotel, hoping it would bring in the votes for the Chair on Saturday. In a thank you message that she sent to her supporters on Thursday, Udofia said: “I am deeply touched by your multi -levels of support and your belief in a CANUK that represents positive change for the community.”
Meanwhile, other positions, conducted via postal voting, over a few weeks for the executive committee, were filled a few days ago, and the newly-elected executive members of the organisation includes, Alex Ubaka Achebe, nephew of the late literary giant and author of the best-selling novel, Things Fall Apart, Professor Chinua Achebe. Anambra State Union UK’s Achebe, was voted the 1st Vice -Chairman, alongside several other executives, including Theodora Ibekwe- Oyebade of the UK Nollywood Producers Guild.
Only delegates from accredited organisations would vote in Saturday’s election.
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