Breaking Election: Council Staff petitions NULGE President, threatens to sue Union to court over denial from contesting

Ahead of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Emoloyees, NULGE's election slated for November 8 in Delta State, a Staff of Isoko North Local Government Council, Amb. (Mrs ) Sarah Couple Ulueme has petitioned the Delta State President of NULGE, Zico 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 whose  petition is dated 4th November,2024 said  she is calling on  CP Abaniwonda to immediately call the Delta State's President, Ziko and his executive to order to forestall any breakdown of law and order. 

Amb. Ulueme noted the Union in October 2024, issued notices of  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 notice 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 while election is scheduled to hold on the 28th November,2024. Amb. Ulueme in the petition told CP Abaniwonda that,if she's 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 and  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 or be deprived of  any  right in a union I have subscribed to for almost 28 years,"

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 note 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. "she said.