ASUU Election: Don Challenges alleged disqualification in Court

ASUU Election: Don challenges alleged disqualification in court

Dr Chris Abakare, a Senior Lecturer in Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) on Tuesday challenged in court his disqualification from contesting the election organised by the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU).

Abakare, who was a chairmanship aspirant in the July 11, 2018 ASUU-NAU elections, claimed he was unjustly disqualified from the contest and prayed the court to set aside the exercise.

Defendants in the case are Prof. Okey Agu, Dr Okechukwu Nwafor, Prof. Dennis Aribodor (immediate past chairman), Dr Kinsley Ubaoji and Dr Stephen Ufoaroh (branch chairman).

Abakare in suit No.A/295/2018 filed by his counsel, O.M. Madukaife at an Anambra High Court sitting in Awka, said that Ufoaroh who was declared winner in the election be restrained from parading himself as chairman.

Abakare said he met all the requirements to participate in the election but was wrongfully disqualified based on a “proposed’’ guideline introduced after the process of election had begun.

He said his purported disqualification was rescinded through a memo dated June 28, 2018, signed by chairman and secretary of the electoral committee (1st and 2nd defendants respectively) following his protest.

The don said he was surprisingly disqualified again for the same reason in a document signed on June 29, 2018 and signed by the chairman of the electoral committee(1st defendant) alone.

He urged the court to do community reading of the constitution and guidelines of ASUU-NAU branch’s election and determine whether his disqualification and conduct of the election was not unlawful and unconstitutional.

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Some of the reliefs he sought include: “A declaration that his disqualification by the 1st and 2nd defendants contrary to the provisions of ASUU’s 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 in branch elections.”

When the case was called up for hearing, the judge, Justice C.A. Emembolu declined without giving reasons and she reassigned the lawsuit to High Court III.

No date has been fixed for the hearing.