Ethiope East LGA: ANCOPSS Threatens To Pull Out Of NUT Over Botched Election

Chairperson, All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Ethiope East Chapter, Mrs. Kehinde Ejenabo has said that principals in Ethiope East Local Government Area have decided to pull out of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) over the botched election for thirteen elective offices in the local government chapter on the 13^th of November, 2017.

Mrs. Kehinde Ejenobo Chairperson, ANCOPSS, Ethiope East LGA Chapter

Speaking to Oasis Magazine (OM) at Isiokolo, Kehinde opined that principals in the area have lost confidence in NUT for failing to push through with the election, adding that it was obvious that the outgone executive do not want NUT in the local government to continue since they observed that the opposing faction would carry the day if the election was conducted.

According to her the State Chairman of NUT, Comr. Titus Okotie is an accomplice in what played out at the venue, adding that he would have stood his ground to ensure that the Returning Officer, Comr. Ufuoma Agboro, also the Delta State Publicity Secretary, goes ahead with the election despite threats from one of the factions contesting the election.

On the issues of alteration of the delegates voters’ list, she argued that they have heard from one of the principals accused of fraudulent acts, saying that they found the principal and others innocent after listening to their explanation.

“The last names on the lists were what were cancelled since it was more than what was required.

“It was not a deliberate act to disenfranchise anyone. It was due process and possibly human errors.”

She added: “I was made the Chairman for the electoral committee that brought in the present state executive of ANCOPSS. Despite threats, I did not bulge but went ahead with the elections. I even had to abandon my hotel room and today I am referred to as the Jega of our time.”

Kehinde expressed displeasure over the Returning Officer’s unwillingness to conduct the election, adding that the idea of a caretaker committee to man the union in the area was unacceptable to them.

Speaking to pressmen, the Returning Officer, Agboro said that the tension in the area was responsible for the failed election, saying that the way forward was for the State executive to inaugurate a caretaker committee to run the affairs of the union in the local government.

He said: “What I saw here was not palatable. Because of discrepancies that were concocted to have evolved from both camps, the election could not hold.

“We tried to resolve the issues, but one camp did not agree. Also, security operatives could not do anything, seeing the rowdiness of the place.

“Seeing that the place was unsafe, I decided to postpone the election. The allegations will be looked into and considered at the state level. Both parties will be called for reconciliation.”

He continued: “It is unfortunate that the election was cancelled. Those saying that non-teachers were added to the list of those to vote are not saying the truth. NUT elections are not elections that you import people since the head of each school is supposed to identify every delegate.

“One of the camps is not taking the election too friendly and probably not ready for the election.”

By Daniel Dafe