The Credentials Committee for the *10th NAWOJ National Triennial Delegates* Conference scheduled to hold in Minna , Niger State, from November 9-11, 2020, has conducted final screening of 34 aspirants vying for various elective positions in the Central Working Committee of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ).
Out of the 34, the Committee cleared 32 candidates to stand for the elections.
Those cleared are as follows:
1. NATIONAL PRESIDENT:
Aisha Ibrahim
Ladi Bala
Ruth Abubakar
Danjuma Chindaba Lucy
2. NATIONAL DEPUTY PRESIDENT:
Idoko Timinepere Jumbo
Lilian Okonkwo-Ogabu
3. NATIONAL SECRETARY
Daharatu Ahmed Aliyu
Helen Udofa
4. NATIONAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY
Bode-are Olayinka Esther
5. NATIONAL TREASURER
Ogazi Nkechinyere
Onwuka-Okereke Ozioma Nma
Rasheed Fatima
6. FINANCIAL SECRETARY
Adekunle Adeola Temitope
7. NATIONAL INTERNAL AUDITOR
Abellega Doorkenger Dorothy
Nnadozie Chinwendu
8. ZONAL VICE PRESIDENTS:
ZONE A:
Musa Halima
ZONE B:
Akingbehin Omobolanle Esther
ZONE C:
Igboka Stella
John Chinaza Peculiar
ZONE D:
Abubakar Chinwe Jamila
ZONE E:
Aishatu Tijjani
Philemon Dorcas Iyitagye
ZONE F:
Okorn Uduak-Ikang Obeteng
ZONAL SECRETARIES:
ZONE A:
Rabi Muhammad
ZONE B:
Adekoya Olufumilayo
ZONE C:
Tina O.Ikwegbu
Stella Nogzi Mbah
ZONE D:
Joy Idam-Ajah Omagha
Leah Thomas
ZONE E:
Tani Akas Samuel
Vilian Vigor Murray
ZONE F:
Eunice Emeyazia
PETITIONS:
THE Committee received three petitions: one from Zone A and two from Zone C.
1. One of the petitions from Zone C came from Eucharia Ike-Enyim of NAWOJ, Ebonyi State Chapter, against Mrs. Stella Igboka, an aspirant for the position of Vice President Zone C.
Eucharia Ike-Enyim claimed that Mrs. Stella Igboka, was a political appointee of Anambra State Government and therefore not eligible to stand election in the forthcoming NAWOJ Delegates Conference as she has not resigned her position as Special Assistant Media, to the Deputy Governor of the State, which she claimed was a flagrant violation of the Constitution of the NUJ.
She provided Media Statement signed by Mrs. Stella Igboka which was published in the Vanguard Newspapers to buttress her claim.
Findings:
The Committee found that Mrs. Igboka is functioning as the S.A.Media to the Deputy Governor, but on Secondment.
Decision:
The Committee cleared Mrs Stella Igboka since it was established that she was on Secondment.
2. The second petition came from Nworah Uche, a NAWOJ member from Anambra State, against John Chinaza Peculiar who is also aspiring for the position of Vice President, Zone C. She claimed that the aspirant was not qualified to contest for the position because she has not practiced for 10 years as stipulated in Article 6 (7-C) of the NUJ Constitution.
The petitioner also claimed that the aspirant has not served as Ex-officio as she had claimed, adding that even if she has served in that position, it does not accord her the right to stand for elective position as the Constitution does not recognize Ex-Officio.
Findings:
The Committee found that the aspirant was employed by the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) in 2009 which is a proof that she has practiced for 11 years and therefore qualified to seek National office of the Association.
The Committee found that contrary to the claim of the petitioner, that John Chinaza Peculiar, was not qualified to contest because she was only an Ex-Officio member of NAWOJ, Ebonyi State Chapter, Article 5 (D) under State Councils, paragraph1(E), the Constitution empowers the SWC to appoint Ex-Officios which makes it a Constitutional position. Therefore, the petition was dismissed.
Decision: John Chinaza Peculiar was cleared to run.
3. The third petition came from Chairman of Kebbi State Chapter of NAWOJ, Lai’atu A. Bamaiyi against Hadiza Saidu Aidijat, an aspirant for the position of Secretary, Zone A.
Lai’atu A. Bamaiyi claimed that Aidijat Saidu was a freelancer, not a full staff of The Nation Newspapers; that she does attend the Chapter’s meetings or Union activities.
She provided evidence of five Congresses of the Chapter in which Saidu Aidijat attended two. On the claim that the aspirant was a freelancer, she said that she contacted head offices of members of her Chapter and found out from The Nation, that the aspirant was a freelancer.
Saidu Aidijat:
The aspirant was contacted on phone, she said that she was the only staff of the The Nation Newspapers in Kebbi State and had presented to the Committee, an appointment letter from The Nation she downloaded from the net. She also told the Committee that she usually attends Congress meetings if she was invited, adding that invitations are issued through the group’s whatsApp platform, text messages, amongst others. The Committee asked her to provide evidence of Congress Attendance since her state chairperson claimed that the earlier letter given to her was obtained through coercion. She equally tendered an “emplotment” letter from the Nation Trumpet newspapers to the Committee.
Findings:
From the Congress attendance Register provided by the Chairperson of Kebbi NAWOJ Chapter, the aspirant attended only two of the Congresses. She also failed to provide any proof of attendance to congresses.
However, the Committee had issues with the letter of first appointment which she claimed was from the Nation Trumpet Newspapers with the caption: “Offer of Emplotment.” The letter was dated in 2005 but had mobile phone numbers which were yet to be rolled out by that year. The Committee declined to clear her.
Sarah Ogodo:
Sarah Ogodo: She has degrees in other disciplines but none in Journalism or Mass Communications. However, she produced documents showing that she was currently doing her PGD in Mass Communication in the National Open University which commenced in 2014. A letter from the School, addressed to the Credentials Committee, introduced her as a student of the school. The school neither issued her with any Attestation letter stating that she has finished her programme and was awaiting result nor a statement of result. For lack of any other academic qualification in Journalism or Mass Communication, the Committee had no other option than to disqualify her.
Ezeogo Boniface Okoro Bulak Afsa
(Chairman) (Secretary)
