Concerns have been raised regarding the upcoming elections of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) in Kano State.
A petition addressed to the National President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), signed by Rukayya Umar, a member of the NAWOJ Kano State Council, outlines irregularities that could compromise the electoral process.
“It has come to our attention that the Chairperson of the Electoral Committee is not an official member of the NUJ or NAWOJ, as the agency where she works, the National Orientation Agency (NOA), has constitutionally been removed from the membership of the NUJ,” the petition states.
Another critical issue raised is the fees set by the Electoral Committee for nomination forms. According to the petition, the form for the NAWOJ Kano Chapter Chairperson position is priced at one hundred thousand naira, while the form for the least office is priced at sixty thousand naira.
“Such high fees could discourage potential candidates from participating in the election,” Umar warned.
The petition also accuses some members of the Electoral Committee of favoritism towards certain individuals vying for positions.
“There is a growing concern that some of the members of the Electoral Committee have shown clear favoritism… This bias undermines the principles of fairness and impartiality that are essential for a credible election,” the petition reads.
The document highlights the possibility that some eligibility criteria for contestants might be overlooked, potentially allowing unqualified candidates to run for office.
“It is crucial that these issues are addressed promptly to uphold the integrity of the journalism profession and the union as a whole,” Umar stated.
The petition was copied to several key figures, including the Commissioner for Information in Kano State, Baba Halilu Dantiye, the National Chairperson of NAWOJ, Aisha Ibrahim, and the Chairman of the NUJ Kano Chapter, Sulaiman Abdullahi Dederi.
