Ahead of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE’s election slated for November 8 in Delta State, a Staff of Isoko North Local Government Council, Sarah Ulueme has petitioned the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda with a threat to sue the union to court for allegedly depriving her of contesting for the office of the Vice Chairman of the Union in Isoko North after she made payment of eighty thousand naira, ₦80,000.00 for nomination form.
Ulueme petition dated 4th November 2024, asked CP Abaniwonda to immediately call the union’s President in Delta State, Ziko and his executive to order, to forestall any breakdown of law.
Ulueme noted that the union in October 2024, issued notices of opening nomination into the various offices to be contested at the union’s elections in the various Local Government Councils Chapters in the state.
According to her, “Sequel to the opening of nomination, I went to Asaba, to purchase the nomination form for the office of the Vice Chairman, Isoko North Chapter.
“After paying ₦80,000.00, Eighty Thousand Naira for the form, the officer designated to issue me with the form said he has been directed by NULGE State President and his Executive not to release the form to me on the ground that the said office I intend to vie for is not open to be contested.
“On further insistence and inquiry, I was informed that it is only in Isoko North Local Government Council that the said office has been so restricted; otherwise, other offices are open to be contested and the office of the Vice Chairman is open for contest in all other Councils in Delta State.”
Ulueme also said, “So far, no notice has been offered for this special exclusion in respect of Isoko North Local Government.”
She pointed out that the same form for which she was deprived has been released to one Agbada to run for the Vice Chairmanship position as the sole candidate who has obtained the form.
While noting that the Union has scheduled the 8th of November,2024 for the screening of contestants, Ulueme in the petition told CP Abaniwonda that, if she’s not allowed to obtain, fill and return the form before the said date, she will be disqualified from the process.
“Sir, in order not to create trouble in the union and for there not to be disruptions in the elections in Isoko North Local Government Council, I wish to urgently call on you and all stakeholders to immediately call the leadership of the union to order and to immediately release my form, otherwise, there will be no election in Isoko North Local Government Council.
“Sir, it is my constitutionally guaranteed inalienable right to freely associate and participate in the activities of any Union or association of my choice, and nobody, no matter how highly placed can trample on my right to be freely available by depriving me of any participatory right in a union I have subscribed to for almost 28years, without the law taking its course.”
Ulueme asked CP Abaniwonda to urgently intervene by calling on the union’s leadership to reverse itself before it is too late.
“Take notice that I have put machinery in motion to sue the union to court to redress this infraction. Further note that until the union is able to prove that I am not a member and have no constitutional right to freely associate and participate in the affairs of NULGE, I am willing and ready to match action with any deprivations being orchestrated by the leadership of the Union.”
Delta NULGE Election: Council Staff petitions Police, threatens court action over exclusion