We the undersigned, speak for and on behalf of the Vanguard for Justice and Peace (VJP) which is a body, comprising landlord-and tenant-residents of the University of Lagos Magodo Residents Association(UMRA). We have come together to re-instate the reign of constitutional democracy and rule of Law, which was truncated recently through the unbridled, naked, and power-drunk recklessness of the Electoral Committee(EC) in the misconduct of the November 30, 2024 General Elections.
This sham of an election was designed to force a clique of questionable people on the residents. Although the EC and the clique enjoy the support of some elders who have been deeply entrenched in the political fabric of our Estate for decades and have become Godfathers, they are in the minority. Here are the facts:
The electorate elected an Executive Committee (Exco) in 2022 led by Chairman Adebayo Ali. Their performance was exemplary in that they improved on the security apparatus by resuscitating the CCTV system; erected solar-powered streetlights; installed electronic gates and significantly reducing debts owed by residents. The preceding Exco to Ali’s was mired in allegations of corruption especially over the award of the CCTV contract to a friend of the former chairman. The alhaji Ali Exco wanted to run for a second term but suddenly some members of his high-performing team broke rank, and chose a leader for themselves in the person of Alhaji Wole Sowole.
The electioneering campaign was hot with brickbats thrown from both camps. The lack of experience of the arbiter, that is, the Electoral Committee began to show in the way they handled issues arising at this phase of the election. Some allegations were investigated while others went ignored. Some residents canvassed for screening of candidates and presentation of manifestos, some were against. Rules guiding conduct of contestants were put out on social media by the EC. Consequences of breaches, some of which were dire, were also displayed on social media without the concurrence of the General House.
If the EC was bereft of experience only, that would have been tolerable, but putative partisanship was already rearing its head. This came to the fore on the “D” Day, 30 November 2024 when General elections we’re held. 179 voters were accredited to vote. Then followed casting of votes. These two processes were hitch free.
Counting of votes commenced. Votes cast for executive positions other than chairmanship were first counted and announced. However, for the chairmanship, the votes of Alhaji Sowore were counted and
announced to be 81. Votes cast for alhaji Ali were not counted as Barrister Omotola Rotimi, the EC CHAIRMAN seized the votes saying they had received a petition claiming that Ali campaigned in his address to the AGM. Subsequently, the EC disqualified alhaji Ali AFTER the electorate had voted for him, and the votes cast for other contestants had been counted. THIS IS THE CAUSE OF THE CRISIS.
The injustice visited on the electorate by then disqualification of Ali and the annulment of the votes cast for him amounts to a flagrant violation of our rights and an IMPOSITION of a minority over a majority. This cannot and should not be allowed to stand. This was the circumstance that birthed the VJP which;
wrote a petition, which is attached, and forwarded it to the Conflicting Resolution Committee, a standing body of the Constitution of UMRA.
This body was unable to function because it claimed that out of the 7 members specified by the constitution, only 5 were on ground! It then suggested that the Elders Forum(EF) be contacted to handle the petition. Vanguard for Justice and Peace then re-directed its petition to the EF which foot-dragged deliberately from December 20, 2024, to January 15, 2025, when we were
forced to approach Ikosi-Isheri LCDA for an amicable resolution.
The composition of the EF is a matter of extreme interest, comprising former Chairmen and Secretaries of UMRA and 4 others, nominated by the Executive Committee. One of them is a former chairman censured in the CCTV scandal. Another is the current General Secretary whose husband is a member of
the EC and superintended the election of his wife onto office. Yet, another is a Nonagenarian who swore publicly that “Ali must go” because he installed him as chairman, but Ali didn’t listen to him any longer.
Now, those who benefited from the stolen election are claiming that the LCDA has no jurisdiction over UMRA. They may be right, but it is noteworthy that they wrote to the same LCDA on Jan 7, 2025, to introduce themselves as the “newly elected UMRA Exco”, one whole week before Vanguard sent its petition to the same body and without the courtesy of being introduced by the former Chairman.
It is also very important to know that those who are beneficiaries of the stolen election have taken “dirty, criminal steps” to steal their way into the accounts of the Estate at First Bank, Ojodu branch. In this nefarious act, carried out in Jan 2025, they connived and went along with a former Vice-chairman who had resigned his position since November 30, 2024, to change the signatories to the account at the bank.
This singular action reveals the character of the motley group clamouring to force its way into power in our dear Estate. Evidence is attached herewith.
Gentlemen of the Press, the above is the truth. We believe that Ikosi-Isheri LCDA has a constitutional right to mediate the crisis. It has taken the right approach to Justice and Peace by cancelling the sham elections and directing that the accounts of the Estate should not be debited as from February 10, 2025.
The resolution of this crisis by Ikosi-Isheri LCDA offers a golden opportunity for us to cleanse our house, by organising a proper election using the expertise of members who are experienced in election matters and electing into office men and women who are committed, not to the personal interests of some godfathers but the overall interests of members of UMRA. Thereafter, we would commission a complete review of our constitution and re-organize the electioneering machinery of the Estate.
For and on behalf of Vanguard for Justice and Peace
Prof. Claudius O. A. Awosope,
Prof. Christian U. Ezeigbo,
Prof. Kayode Oguntuashe,
Emeritus Prof.Olukayode Amund,
Mrs Patience Ohiomoba,
Mrs Deyosola Agbenohevi,
Mr. Frederick A. J. Emelerata
Mr Daniel Omotilewa,
