By Wole Adedoyin
The recently concluded ANA convention, held from November 1 to 4, 2023, will be remembered for its blatant disregard for democratic processes and the Association’s established rules.
The event witnessed the most significant mockery of AGM/elections, marked by numerous violations of procedures, conventions, and regulations. The undemocratic nature and arbitrary behavior displayed during the convention were unparalleled in the history of the Association. The AGM took place without a proper agenda, minutes of the meeting, or any reports, including a complete absence of financial documentation. The entire proceedings were conducted by the President and his secretary, who stood throughout the event, further emphasizing the lack of transparency and accountability.
The ANA National Election, held on November 4, 2023, to elect the 13th President of the Association of Nigerian Authors, was tainted by widespread electoral malpractices and clear evidence of rigging. The election, which resulted in the victory of Dr. Usman Akanbi, was far from being free, fair, and credible. Numerous irregularities marred the process, including vote buying, the prevention of Hajiya Farida Mohammed’s supporters from voting, the issuance of multiple voting papers to Pro-Akanbi voters, and the use of security forces to intimidate and harass members loyal to Hajiya Farida Mohammed.This election marked a shameful milestone in the history of the Association of Nigerian Authors, with unprecedented levels of misconduct. Instances of over-voting, deliberate exclusion of names of members loyal to Hajiya Farida Mohammed, and a blatant disregard for ANA’s established voting traditions further underscored the lack of integrity in the electoral process.The recent ANA National Election was marred by manipulation, orchestrated by the former President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Camillus Ukah. He devised a cunning scheme to find a puppet who would shield his corrupt practices and unlawful actions. The accreditation process, relying on the purported ANA Membership revalidation list, was far from transparent. This list was not only tampered with but also intentionally structured to disqualify ANA members who were loyal to Hajiya Farida Mohammed. Camillus held a strong aversion towards Farida and vowed vehemently that she would never become the ANA President during his lifetime.Prior to this incident, Camillus Ukah had vowed not to allow any of his outgoing National Executive Council (NEC) members to return. As a result, he personally orchestrated the most poorly organised convention in the history of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). During the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association, no financial report was presented, marking a significant lapse in transparency and accountability.
THE PETITION BY THE MEMBERS OF ANA EXCO AGAINST CAMILLUS UKAH
The members of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Executive Committee lodged a formal complaint against Camillus Ukah’s administration. For a period exceeding three years, Ukah had been unilaterally managing ANA affairs, excluding input from other National Executive Council (NEC) members. Critical agreements, including the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding ANA Land and other significant matters, were signed solely by Ukah and his secretary, sidelining other executive members of the association. Frustrated by this lack of inclusivity, aggrieved NEC members drafted a petition against his administration, which was addressed to Prof. Ernest Emenyonu, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of ANA.In response, Prof. Ernest Emenyonu requested Ukah’s reply to the petition. Regrettably, Ukah has yet to provide a response. This failure to address the concerns raised in the petition led Ukah to propose the removal of Prof. Ernest Emenyonu from his position as the Chairman of ANA’s Board of Trustees during the recently concluded ANA National Convention.
(To access the petition, click on this link: http://bit.ly/40tuMoN.)COMPOSITION OF THE ELECTORAL PANEL
The electoral panel responsible for organizing the questionable election was comprised of individuals loyal to Camillus Ukah, deviating from the traditional ANA Elections protocol, which typically involves ANA Elders. Notably, two members of the committee were Branch Chairmen currently affiliated with Camillus Ukah. Moreover, the self-appointed Chairman of the Electoral committee was one of the members recently designated as ANA Fellow by Camillus Ukah himself.ON THE CONTROVERSIAL REVALIDATED MEMBERSHIP LIST The situation took a dark turn when an electoral register, supposedly comprised of revalidated members, was manipulated to exclude potential voters who were against Camillus Ukah’s preferred candidates for executive positions. Camillus Ukah used flimsy and outright abusive tactics to remove these individuals from the list, including legally qualified persons and even some ANA chapter chairmen, both current and former.
Prominent chairmen like ANA Oyo, ANA Nassarawa, and ANA Niger found themselves barred from accessing the AGM, leading to their disenfranchisement. Additionally, Five members of Camillus Ukah’s national executive council, those who didn’t align with his interests and contested, were screened out and denied entry to the AGM/election venue. It was only after these individuals protested to the advisory council members, where I was present, that the anomalies in the process were brought to light and argued against.
Many witnesses experienced the election as nothing short of a perfectly rigged affair orchestrated by Camillus Ukah. The evidence of this manipulation is glaring and accessible to anyone who cares to look. By no standard can this election be deemed free and fair; it would not withstand scrutiny in any investigative or judicial inquiry.
ELECTION IRREGULARITIES: OVER-VOTING ISSUE
During the recent ANA National election, a significant electoral irregularity was observed in the form of over-voting. The breakdown of the votes cast in various categories reveals this concern:
PRESIDENT
Akanbi: 140 votes
Hajiya Farida Mohammed: 86 votes
Voids: 4
Total Number of Accredited Voters: 209
Total Number of Votes Cast: 230
Excess Votes: 21
VICE PRESIDENT
Gomba: 151 votes
Greg: 63 votes
Void: 4
Total Number of Accredited Voters: 209
Total Number of Votes Cast: 218
Excess Votes: 9
GENERAL SECRETARY Joan Orji: 132 votes
Wole Adedoyin: 77 votes
Voids: 4
Total Number of Accredited Voters: 209
Total Number of Votes Cast: 213
Excess Votes: 4
ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY ARA: 132 votes
Bentex: 66 votes
Voids: 4 Total Number of Accredited Voters: 209
Total Number of Votes Cast: 202
FINANCIAL SECRETARY
Esika: 127 votes
Freeman: 75 votes
Voids: 2Total Number of Accredited Voters: 209Total Number of Votes Cast: 204AUDITORStephen: 107 votes
Gbogbo: 67 votes
Voids: 7
Total Number of Accredited Voters: 209Total Number of Votes Cast: 181
PRO NORTH
Bala: 122 votes
Taiwo: 71 votes
Voids: 15
Total Number of Accredited Voters: 209
Total Number of Votes Cast: 208
EX-OFFICIO Chimankpa: 120 votes
Yogiza: 67 votes
Voids: 23
Total Number of Accredited Voters: 209
Total Number of Votes Cast: 210
Excess Vote: 1
Despite clear evidence of over-voting, the Pro-Camillus Ukah Electoral panel proceeded to announce Dr. Usman Akanbi as the duly elected President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA).ELECTION FRAUD: VOTE BUYING IN THE ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAN AUTHORS
The recent election held by the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) was marred by widespread vote buying. The outgoing National President of ANA has transformed the organization into a political arena, where money exchanged hands in order to secure votes. Certain individuals were offered sums ranging from N20,000 to N40,000 to sway their votes. Additionally, Chapter Chairmen, excluding those loyal to Hajia Farida Mohammed, were enticed with substantial amounts of money to support Camillus Ukah’s illicit efforts, ensuring that his chosen candidate would emerge as the President of ANA. This blatant manipulation of the election process involved the unethical practice of buying votes.USING SECURITY FORCES TO BRUTALIZE AND HARASS LOYAL SUPPORTERS OF HAJIYA FARDIA MOHAMMEDMany of us who opposed the fraudulent convention and election faced threats from DSS officers, who were deployed to protect the illegal activities orchestrated by Camillus Ukah. We were threatened with violence, and one of our members, Mr. Taiwo Akerele, the former Chairman of ANA Abuja and the Campaign Director for Dr. Adams Lois, a candidate for the National Treasurer position, was brutally attacked. Mr. Akerele sustained severe injuries and was promptly rushed to the hospital for treatment.UNILATERAL REMOVAL OF PROF. ERNEST EMENYONU, MAMA MABEL SEGUN, AND LABO YARI BY CAMILLUS UKAHDuring the recent ANA Convention, the three esteemed trustees of the Association—Prof. Ernest Emenyonu, Mama Mabel Segun, and the late Labo Yari—were unilaterally removed and replaced by the outgoing president, Camillus Ukah. This decision was made without following formal procedures or engaging in any prior discussions within the National Executive Council. Camillus Ukah simply announced these changes at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) without allowing for any debate or consideration. The replacements were handpicked solely by him, without adhering to the expected inherent balance in a national association. The captive audience of pre-selected accredited delegates at the AGM complied according to a predetermined script. This hasty and undebated decision-making process characterized many significant resolutions passed at the convention of the largest writers’ body in Africa.TO BE CONTINUED