The last stroke that broke the unity in Unity Bar, splitting it into two in 2016, was the phrase, “as qualified as you are.”
This phrase is inserted in the Electoral Guidelines released, relying on the relevant position of the Uniformed Bye Law For NBA Branches. One of the nominators of the then Chairmanship candidate, was adjudged not have been on all fours as qualified as the person she-he nominated.
Shifting from this crisis history of NBA Abuja (Unity Bar), to NBA Bwari-Cradle Bar’s 2023 Election, this phrase has come up again.
A candidate for the office of Assistant Secretary, was disqualified because one of his nominators was adjudged as not as qualified as he is. The said nominator, did not pay Welfare Levy imposed by the Branch.
The disqualified aspirant alleges that, he was not the only one, whose nominator, did not meet the phrase. To buttress his allegation, he wrote a letter requesting that CTC of the nomination forms submitted by all the Aspirants be made an available to him. The Electoral Committee, orally refused to grant him his prayers.
This refusal, have thickened wagging tongues that NBA Bwari Electoral Committee, is applying the provisions of the Bye Law and Electoral Guidelines in breaches; clearing those not qualified and disqualifying those they feel will be strong opposition to their anointed candidates.
We have it from a member of the Electoral Committee that, the nominators of Paul Daudu are not from the North and the nominators of Chinyere Moneme are not from the East.
These nominators, run contrary to the phrase shall be as qualified as the person you are nominating.
The office of the Chairman of NBA Bwari, is zoned to the North while that of the Secretary, is zoned to the East.
Arguing that zoning is not enshrined in the Bye Law, supporters of Rex Uzoegbu, Esq., counter punched that, payment or not of Welfare Levy, is not in the Bye Law and no candidate, should be disqualified by any guidelines of Electoral Committee that is contrary to the provisions of the Bye Law with regards to Eligibility to Contest.
There has been calm but akin to that of a rumbling active volcano in the branch. This calm before the storm, we are told will erupt into a tsunami once the Law Week comes to an end on 25th and the list of voters released on June 1.
Will this phrase tear Cradle Bar apart like it did Unity Bar?
