NGIJ Crisis Deepens As Aliagan Re-Elected Amid Electoral Dispute
….Members Protest, Resign Over Alleged Multiple Voting, Demand Bolaji Be Declared Winner
The Nigerian Guild of Investigative Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists (NGIJ) has been plunged into an deeper electoral crisis following Wednesday’s virtual election in which the incumbent National President, Abdulrahman Aliagan, was declared re-elected by 24 votes to 23, amid protests by members over alleged irregularities in the voting process.
The disputed margin of one vote has become the centre of the controversy, with aggrieved members insisting that two unauthorised votes should be removed from the final tally. They consequently called for Comrade Israel Bolaji, popularly known as Bashorun, to be declared the winner.
Scores of members have resigned from the Guild in protest, while some have rejected the outcome of the election and called for a review of the disputed votes.
The crisis has also led to the resignation of the newly elected National Public Relations Officer, Kehinde Adeleye, who, despite emerging victorious in his contest, rejected the outcome of the presidential election.
Adeleye said the election was compromised by multiple voting, claiming that Aliagan and an ally were allowed to cast votes through their respective media organisations in a manner that contravened the Guild’s longstanding voting practice.
According to him, the NGIJ had, over the past eight years, operated a system in which each media organisation was entitled to one vote.
He noted that the arrangement was breached during Wednesday’s election, resulting in an unfair advantage for the incumbent and his ally.
“NGIJ elections in the last over eight years of its history have always operated a one-vote-to-one-media-house system. However, curiously, Abdulrahman Aliagan, as the outgoing President seeking re-election, vetoed his employee and those of his close ally, who was also seeking re-election, to vote in the last election.
“This caused him to win with one vote. Members protested massively and called for the two votes to be cancelled and Comrade Israel Bolaji, popularly known as Bashorun, to be declared the winner.”
The protesters argued that removing the two disputed votes from the 24-23 result would fundamentally alter the outcome of the election and give Bolaji the majority.
The development reportedly triggered a wave of resignations from the Guild, including that of a former National President, Ayo Mojoyin.
Also reacting to the development, Bolaji rejected the election outcome, describing the process as “a joke taken too far”.
He alleged that Aliagan exerted pressure on members of the Electoral Committee to permit multiple voting in a manner that favoured his candidacy and that of his ally.
“Aliagan is deluding himself about being re-elected. How can you win an election when half of the members have walked out and resigned from the association over the conduct and outcome of the election?
“This clearly shows the depth of the crisis and the rejection of the process by a significant number of members.”
The disputed election followed months of internal campaigning during which members had expressed concerns about the poor leadership and weak performance of the outgoing administration under Abdulrahman Aliagan.
The latest development has therefore created uncertainty over the future direction of the Guild, with aggrieved members demanding accountability, transparency and a review of the electoral process.
The controversy comes at a time when the NGIJ, established to promote investigative journalism and professional development among journalists, is expected to uphold the principles of transparency, accountability and credibility which underpin investigative journalism.