A group of three members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi State Council, have obtained an order of interim injunction from the state High Court No. 10, halting plans to hold elections into various leadership positions.
WikkiTimes learnt that Bauchi NUJ Working Committee nominated an eight-man member electoral committee saddled with the task of organising elections slated to hold on June 21.
The complainants lead by Abdulwahab Muhammad of VOA Hausa Service, Fatima Danjuma Idris of Information Chapel and one Garba Kabiru Abubakar, approached the High Court through their counsel, S.G Idrees seeking an order to stop preparations for the elections. They argued that process of the nomination of the members of the electoral committee violates provisions of NUJ constitution.
The incumbent NUJ Chairman Bauchi State Council, Umar Saudi, who is in for re-election for another tenure of three years is a respondent in the case.
The eight-man member electoral committee comprises Afsa Bulak of NTA Bauchi; Ishola Michael Adeyemi of Tribune newspaper; Haruna Yusuf of BRC; Muhammad Adamu Gabi of Globe FM Bauchi; Firdausi Ibrahim Bakondi of Albarka Radio and one Aliyu Sambo.
To the complainants, the revised constitution of the NUJ provides that it is only the congress of the union has powers to nominate members into the electoral committee, arguing that on the contrary, the State Working Committee of the council shortlisted names of members of the electoral committee.
Section 9D of the NUJ constitution reads, “the credentials committee at State Council level shall be nominated by the State Congress subject to the approval of the National Secretariat.”
In his ruling on Monday, the presiding judge, Justice MM Abubakar ruled that the workings of the electoral committee remains null and void pending the conclusion of hearing of the matter before the court.
He also banned the eight-man member electoral committee from parading themselves as the recognised committee saddled with the responsibility of organising state working committee elections of the Bauchi NUJ Council.
Justice Abubakar adjourned the matter to 12 July for the return date of motion on notice.
