ANA to hold election

Edozie Udeze

The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) is set to hold its election on Saturday 28th March 2020.  The venue of the election is JS Tarka Foundation, Makurdi, Benue State.

In a statement Professor Jerry Agada, Chairman of the Electoral Committee on behalf of the National Adivsory Council of ANA stated that the election is to fulfill the stipulated constitutional framework of the association.  This was after the election could not hold at the annual convention held in Enugu in November last year.

Due to the impasse, the advisory council was mandated by the ANA board of trustees based on the constitution to take over the responsibilities of the writers’ body and to organize election into its national offices within 180 days.

The Agada led committee warned that it is only those duly and officially accredited by their state chairmen at the Enugu convention that are qualified to vote.

“Delegates have to be officially recognized by the committee to be allowed to vote”, he said.  At the same time, he noted that the accreditation and voting and inauguration processes will now serve as an opportunity for the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

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Delegates are to arrive on Friday March 27, while the following day will be strictly for the election.  Thereafter the inauguration of the elected officials will take place as the only business of the day.  And it is only qualified candidates that will be allowed into the venue of the election.  And also the list of voters, in all intents and purposes, most conform with what had already been received at the Enugu botched convention.  In other words, none delegates are warned to steer clear of the venue of the voting and at the same time delegates will be responsible for the cost of their participation.  Only venue, security and electoral materials will be provided by the committee.

There is also room for fresh contestants to vie for position while at the same time trying to meet the constitutional requirement of ANA.

It must be recalled that the convention in Enugu was aborted and therefore election could not hold.