Ahead of the election of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, slated for November 28 in Delta State, a staff of Isoko North Local Government Council, Amb. (Mrs) Sarah Couple Ulueme has petitioned the Delta State President, NULGE, Ziko Okwudi with a threat to sue the union to court for allegedly depriving her from 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.
Amb. Ulueme in her petition dated 4th November, 2024, is sking the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda to immediately call the Delta State President, Ziko and his executive to order to forestall any breakdown of law and order.
She noted that the union in October 2024, issued notices 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.”
Amb. Ulueme also said, “So far, no notice has been offered for this special exclusion in respect of Isoko North Local Government.”
She pointed that the same form for which she was deprived has been released to one Mrs. Agbada to run for the Vice Chairmanship position as the sole candidate who has obtained form.
While noting that “The Union has scheduled the 8th of November, 2024, for the screening of contestants, Amb. Ulueme said the election is equally slated for November 28.
In the petition, Ulueme told CP Abaniwonda that if she is not allowed to obtain, fill and return the form before the said date, she will be disqualified from the process.
“Sir, in order no 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 in any Union or association of my choice, and nobody, no matter how highly placed can trample on my right to 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.”
Amb. Ulueme emphasized that CP Abaniwonda should urgently intervene by calling on the union’s leadership to reverse itself before it’s 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.”
The Delta State NULGE President, Mr. Ziko Okwudi in a WhatsApp message has replied to questions put before him by Our Correspondent.
In his message he said, “Am just hearing this for the first time! Maybe you ask her again for better clarification if I am really the person she was referring to!”.
