Shittu floors Elochukwu

Shittu floors Elochukwu

• Makes history as first ANLCA President to win re-election

Prince Olayiwola Shittu was yesterday re-elected National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA). Shittu was re-elected unopposed by delegates to the National Executive Committee (NECOM) election of the association held at Festac Town, Lagos.

The election, which witnessed an impressive turnout of eligible voters, held despite threats by a board member and former President of the association, Chief Ernest Elochukwu, and a few others to stall it. Elochukwu had unsuccessfully led some members of the ANLCA Board of Trustees (BOT) to insist on the postponement of the election.

Shittu is the first President of ANLCA to be re-elected to serve a second term.

Coordinator of the BOT, Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha and a member, Mr. Dayo Azeez, had however insisted that the election must be held as planned. The National Executive Committee (NEC), which is the highest decision making body of the association had on 31^st March, 2014 also passed a resolution insisting on the conduct of the election on 14^th April, 2014.

The participation of 80 per cent of a total of 73 eligible voters in the election yesterday was seen by analysts as a defiant statement by the association’s members against attempts to truncate it.

Out of a total of 57 votes cast, Shittu got 56 while the other was invalid.

Also reelected alongside Shittu unopposed were Emenike Nwokeoji as Vice President; Dr. Emmanuel Ogu Oparah as National Secretary; Alhaji Hamzat Bojuri as National Treasurer and Livinus Dada Agubuzo, who was elected for the first time as Financial Secretary of the association.

The peacefully conducted elections also witnessed the emergence of immediate past chairman of Apapa chapter, John Ofobike, as Zonal Coordinator West.

Ofobike contested the position with its immediate past occupant, Prince Ozo Chukwurah, who he defeated by 10 votes. He had 28 votes cast in his favour against Chukwurah’s 18 votes.

Ofobike will be working with Oyekangu Liasu Bayo who was elected unopposed as Zonal Secretary West.

Unlike his former counterpart, the Zonal Coordinator East, Chief Dennis Ukwu, was successfully returned for a second term as he defeated his sole opponent, Barrister Oyimba, gathering 8 votes against Oyinmba’s 4.

After the election, the returned and newly elected executives were immediately sworn in by the association’s legal adviser, Barrister Chekwube Osonwa.

The ANLCA National President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, during his speech after the inauguration ceremony expressed appreciation to those who supported his reelection and promised to mend fences with those who have been slighted by the imperfections of his previous administration for the purpose of uniting the association.

He said that his team would not relent in its efforts to better reposition the association with a pledge that his second administration would strive to “get ANLCA chartered through the National Assembly”.