A lecturer with the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Dr Chris Abakare, has taken the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU in the institution to court over irregularities in its recently held election.
Abakare said he was wrongfully disqualified from participating in the process based on what he called election malpractice resulting from ‘proposed’ guideline introduced after the process of election had begun.
He contended that his disqualification was unlawful, insisting that he met all the criteria needed for him to participate in the election.
Abakare had contested for the position of the chairman of the union in the election but lost to Dr Stephen Ufoaroh.
The matter which was brought before Justice C.A. Emembolu on Tuesday for hearing was transferred to another court due to Emembolu’s imminent retirement.
Abakare, in suit No.A/295/2018, file by his lawyer, O.M. Madukaife, contended that he was unjustly disqualified from contesting the election and prayed the court to set aside the exercise.
Defendants in the matter were Prof Okey Agu, Dr Okechukwu Nwafor, Prof. Dennis Aribodor (immediate past chairman), Dr Kinsley Ubaoji and Dr Stephen Ufoaroh( current branch chairman)
The plaintiff(Abakare) said Ufoaroh who was declared winner in the election be restrained from parading himself as chairman.
He said his purported disqualification was rescinded through a memo dated June 28, 2018 and signed by the chairman and secretary of the electoral committee, Prof Okey Ogu and Dr Okechukwu Nwafor, respectively, after he protested.
He said,” I was surprisingly disqualified again in a document signed on June 29, 2018 by the chairman of the committee alone”.
He urged the court to do a community reading of the Nigerian constitution, ASUU-NAU election guidelines and determine whether his disqualification and subsequent conduct of the election were not illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.
Prayers made by the plaintiff included; “A declaration that his declaration by the 1st and 2nd defendants contrary to the provisions of ASUU constitution and supplementary rules on branch elections is illegal, unconstitutional and of no effect.
“An order setting aside the purported election of ASUU-NAU held on July 11, 2018 in relation to the office of the chairperson and restraining the 5th defendant from parading himself pending the conduct of fresh election for the office of chairperson.
“An order mandating the 1st and 2nd defendants to conduct fresh election for ASUU-NAU in accordance with its constitution and code of practice and supplementary rules.”
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