Fides Media Living the Faith
…Orizu Faults Process
By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu
Comrade Humphrey Nwafor, a Staff of the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) and the current Chairman of Non Academic Staff Union (NASU), Anambra State Council, has emerged as the new Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Anambra State Council.
His election followed the 13th State Delegates Conference of the NLC in Awka, last Tuesday held at NUT House. It was preceded by the Business Session which had delegates from all the affiliate unions and bodies, including observers, and journalists in attendance.
Nwafor polled 274 votes to defeat his rival, Comrade Chinwe Orizu, who garnered 241 votes in what many termed a keenly contested election.
Declaring the result of the election, the returning officer and NLC President who was represented by the National President, Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Professor, Emmanuel Osodeke, said that Comrade Nwafor won the exercise after polling two hundred and seventy four votes to beat the incumbent, Comrade Chinwe Orizu, who polled two hundred and forty one votes. He therefore returned Comrade Nwafor as the new chairman.
Osodeke however declared that other positions, including the Vice Chairman, Auditor and Treasurer, were inconclusive and would be concluded on Wednesday.
Those declared Winners included Comrade Maureen Stone Enujioke, Anambra State Chairman of Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU); and Comrade Jane Ngozi Cele Okafor of the Iron and Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ISSAN), who were both returned unopposed as Ex-officio members.
Reacting, Comrade Orizu accused the electoral body of bias, saying that the exercise that brought Comrade Nwafor was marred by irregularities and should not stand, adding that many of her votes were invalidated. She vowed to take the matter up, noting that she would make her position known to the public soon.