The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, and Organizations of African Instituted Churches, have rejected the election of the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria, over alleged disregard for constitutional procedure.
CSN, while speaking with journalists, Youth Leader, Joseph Bulama, alleged resort to self-help by organisers of the election.
The CAN youth wing reportedly held an election on Friday, with Rev Gabriel Shall emerging as Adamawa State chairman, among other new officials.
“We the representatives of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Organization of African Instituted Churches (OAIC) and some other stakeholders have come to express our disappointment over the purported election and publicly dissociate ourselves from the show of shame,” Bulama said.
He stated that a letter communicating the postponement of the election earlier fixed for Friday, 25th August 2023 and duly passed to YOWICAN by the Adamawa State Chapter of CAN, noting the CSN Youth Wing and some blocs were not prepared.
“One begins to wonder at what point the national body of YOWICAN agreed to hold another election after duly communicating an indefinite postponement of the election without any counter correspondence to that effect. One Mr Bako, who imposed himself as the national secretary of YOWICAN is the brain behind the election.
“The action is unacceptable to us. If Mr Bako were rightly representing the national body as claimed, where was a letter duly signed by the national president and other relevant persons nominating him for such a role?
“How come the national secretary is from TEKAN-ECWA, the former national officer on the Electoral Board, Mr Ajiyu is also from TEKAN-ECWA and it was only the TEKAN-ECWA bloc that had full representation? This can safely be said to be a TEKAN-ECWA coup against the state. This cannot stand,” he said.
It was gathered the course of the election in which Shall, who was the incumbent chairman, was reportedly elected for a second term, an electoral official had spoken dubious plan to manipulate the election “on foul security reports.”
Bako Elijah who led a delegation from Abuja to supervise the election, explained that although there was a letter from the Adamawa State CAN office claiming insecurity and demanding postponement of the election, he insisted that the letter could not undermine the instruction of the national office.
Shall polled 57 votes to become the Chairman, while Sani Tanida got 57 votes also to win the vice chairman seat, with the secretary post going to Kefas Muzong, who got 37 votes and treasurer position going to Bitrus Danladi, who got 54 votes.
