By Olumide Adeyinka
National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, (NAPPS), Delta State divides, after Election: Teaming supporters of Bagh Ekrebe pull out of Napps, Delta State following the alleged illegal declaration of Ifoghere as Chairman-elect in Delta State.
An aspirant for the position of the Chairman, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Delta State Wing, Bagh Ekrebe, said that contrary to reports that there was an election for positions into the State Executive in Delta State on the 10th of July, 2019 at the NUT Hall, Ozoro, what was seen was a the proclamation of Deacon Monday Ifoghere as chairman, noting that the declaration was alleged endorsement by a National and Zonal Officer of the Association who had been briefed on the preferred candidate of those that held the reins of power in the state.
Ekrebe was disqualified by the National Electoral Committee (NECOM) on the very day of the alleged election on the ground that he has not held any position at the State level, in spite of the fact that he has been a member of the State Working (SEC) for 8years in his position as a Local Govt Area Chairman & Secretary respectively.
Ekrebe in a press statement, said Deacon Ifoghere was not qualified as a candidate for the election because he was only a State Secretary of the Association of Private School Owners of Nigeria (APSON) in 2015, and not NAPPS, and was thus NOT qualified by the NAPPS constitution of 2017,” saying “this was strange to law.” for somebody to enjoy the provision of a law retrospectively.
He said: “The constitution states that disqualified candidates should be notified 30 days before the election. That It was an anomaly for a candidate for an election to be informed of his disqualification on the very day of an election.
“Can an election where members of the electoral committee are also candidates be referred to as an election? Deacon Osazuwa Chuks who allegedly emerged as the treasurer, was in the electoral committee that screened Mr Ekrebe out.
“The glaring collateral breach of NAPPS constitution made 2/3 of delegates pull out of the so called election. They were afraid of their clandestine scheming hence they brought heavily armed policemen to the venue, to further suppress the popular wishes of the people. ”Said Ekrebe
He alleged that a day after the said election, the State Chairman, Dr Akpeme and Deacon Ifoghere have been going about wooing aggrieved members who have abandoned the association, urging them to come back.
Furthermore, he stated that “majority of NAPPS members in the state have vowed to leave the association to where they can get some fresh air with integrity and obey democratic principles.
“Have you seen an election of educated intelligent people where everybody is returned unopposed? That is appointment, not election.” He said
About the possibility of sheathing their swords and embracing peace, he said “that will only happen if they call for a proper election to test the popularity of candidates as shown in the various senatorial primaries, rather than disqualifying members to declare their cronies unopposed.”
Furthermore, he said: “Security men in vehicles were invited to the venue of the election. Why? They thought those who will not endorse their so called inauguration will resort to violence. But as educated and matured men and women, we just pulled off quietly.
“The interpretation of the National Electoral Committee guidelines on the contentious clause of eligibility was jettisoned. The three relevant chapters and articles of the constitution were ignored. Laid down procedures for disqualification were not followed, but abused.” Ekrebe said
Meanwhile, reliable sources said that the names of the pulled out members will soon be released.
