BACKGROUND Federal Government College Kwali Old Students Old Students Association (FEDGOKOSA) was formerly incorporated and registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on 14th October, 2009 with seven (7) members as trustees. Since its incorporation FEDGOKOSA (Abuja Chapter) has been run by an Interim Exco who have tried their best to steer its affairs to the best of their abilities. Desirous of ensuring a lasting and durable framework for current and future endeavours, FEDGOKOSA (Abuja Chapter) at its End-of-year meeting/dinner at Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja on the 9th of November, 2013 appointed a Five (5) member Electoral Committee (ELCOM), charged with the responsibility of organizing elections into various Exco positions of FEDGOKOSA (Abuja Chapter) latest by the first quarter of 2014. The members of the ELCOM are as follows; 1. Peter O. Chogudo - Chairman - 91 set 2. Isah Bala Mohammed - Member - 90 set 3. Achile Omalii - Member - 91 set 4. Nkem Chinwuba - Member - 92 set 5. Sewuse Wayo - Member - 2004 set 6. Joseph Ukpong - Secretary - 94 set The Committee after several meetings and deliberations came up with a draft election framework to guide in the election process. At the General Meeting of 2nd March, 2014, held in Nanet Suites, Central Business District, Abuja, the draft election guideline was further discussed, deliberated and corrected upon. Subsequently a final election guideline was agreed upon and adopted. These guidelines will serve as the basis upon which the elections into FEDKOSA Abuja Chapter will be based on. ELECTION GUIDELINES 1.0: GENERAL RULES A. Elective Positions 1. The following elective positions are vacant and available, namely; • Chairman • Vice-Chairman • General Secretary • Assistant General Secretary • Financial Secretary • Treasurer • Public Relations Officer (PRO) • Welfare Officer • Provost 2. A maximum of Eight (8) candidates per elective position is permitted. 3. All candidates interested in vying for any elective position will be required to purchase the election nomination forms at the following rates; • Chairman - N50,000 • Vice-Chairman - N50,000 • General Secretary - N50,000 • Assistant General Secretary - N30,000 • Financial Secretary - N30,000 • Treasurer - N30,000 • Public Relations Officer (PRO) - N30,000 • Welfare Officer - N30,000 • Provost - N30,000 4. The elective positions of; • Chairman • Vice-Chairman • General Secretary, Are to be vied for, only by members who graduated from FGC Kwali, not less than Twenty (20) years ago. 5. All other elective positions outside those mentioned in 4. above, are open to be vied for by all other sets of FGC, Kwali. B. Election Day The conduct of election for elective positions as stated in section 1.0.A will hold all things being equal on 30th March, 2014 by 3.00p.m. as decided by the General Assembly at the meeting of 2nd March, 2014 held at Nanet Suites, Central Business District, Abuja. C. Sale of Nomination Forms Nomination forms into various elective offices as stated in section 1.0.A will be sold to interested candidates at the rates specified in 1.0.A.3. The sale will commence from 3rd March 2014 and last for two (2) weeks ending on the 14th March, 2014 or until as further directed by the ELCOM. D. Period of Campaign Campaigning by candidates will commence from 15th March 2014 and continue until 12 noon of the Election Day. E. Voter Registration 1. Voter registration should commence once the Election guideline has been approved for circulation until the Election Day proper, but not later than 12 noon of the Election Day and at least two hours before the commencement of voting. F. Candidate Registration 1. Candidate registration should commence once the Election guideline has been approved for circulation until either of the following happens (anyone which comes earlier); • Not later than 14th March, 2014 • When the maximum number of candidates as stated in section 1.0.A.2 above is reached 2. A candidate can withdraw his candidature at any point before election has been conducted on such an elective position for which he has earlier indicated interest. But once an election has been conducted he cannot withdraw his candidature. 3. If a successful winner of an election to an elective position withdraws his candidature after the oath-of-office has been administered such a withdrawal will be deemed null and void. But if such a candidate persists on withdrawing his/her candidature, such withdrawal will now be considered as resignation and all relevant rules in the FEDGOKOSA Constitution will automatically become applicable to such a candidate. G. Voting 1. Voting will commence on the Election Day by 3.00p.m. or as directed by the ELCOM but without prejudice to section 1.0.E.1 and continue till winners have emerged for all elective positions without prejudice to the time of the day. 2.0: VOTER REGISTERATION A. Eligibility A person is eligible to vote in the election if the following are met; 1. Is a member of FEDGOKOSA, evidenced by duly filling the Membership form 2. He/She has no outstanding pledge or is not in any way financially indebted to FEDGOKOSA B. Disqualification A person eligible to vote in the election (having satisfied A above) will not be disqualified from voting except on the following conditions; 1. Exceptional disruptive behaviour on Election Day, like fighting, using abusive language on other members and/or electoral officers. 2. Any other act deemed disruptive by the Electoral committee and not covered in 1. Above. 3.0: CANDIDATE REGISTERATION A. Eligibility A person is eligible to contest in the election and be voted for if the following are met; 1. Is a member of FEDGOKOSA, evidenced by duly filling the Membership form 2. Shows evidence of purchasing the Nomination form 3. He/She has no outstanding pledge or is not in any way financially indebted to FEDGOKOSA. 4. Has a campaign manifesto stating his/her interest and plans for FEDGOKOSA if elected. 5. Signs a pledge to follow the ELCOM election guidelines 6. Has attended at least three (3) FEDGOKOSA meetings in the past 7. His/Her candidature is endorsed by two (2) members of FEDGOKOSA 8. Must be physically resident in Abuja or its environs B. Disqualification A person eligible to stand for election and be voted for (having satisfied A above) will not be disqualified except on the following conditions; 1. Exceptional disruptive behaviour on Election Day, like fighting, using abusive language on other members and/or electoral officers. 2. Any other act deemed disruptive by the Electoral committee and not covered in 1. Above . 4.0: VOTING A. Sequence The order of voting on Election Day shall adhere to the sequence of positions as stated in Order 1.0.A above (Elective positions), except otherwise decided on Election Day by the ELCOM. B. Rules The following rules shall stand on voting day; 1. All candidates vying to be elected must be present in person 2. All voters wishing to vote must be present in person 3. No candidate nor voter will be accepted in proxy 4. Voting will commence only after due checks to ensure candidate and voter eligibility are concluded 5. Voting will be by secret ballot 6. A voter will vote only once for any candidate for an elective position. 7. Votes will be counted immediately after they have been casted for any elective position 8. Only one (1) agent of each candidate will be allowed to verify the counting process for each elective position 9. All voting for all elective positions must be concluded on the day of the election without prejudice to the time of the day. C. Victory 1. Winners for positions to be contested for shall be determined by simple majority 2. In the event of an elective position having only one candidate who meets all the eligibility requirements, such a candidate will be deemed to be un-opposed and subsequently and automatically declared the winner of such an elective position. D. Dispute Resolution 1. In the event of a candidate disputing the results of an election into an elective position for which he is a candidate, a voter recount will be done only once and in his presence and the presence of his agent. Once done, no voter recount will be possible for such a candidate. 2. In the event that a tie results between two or more persons scoring the highest votes for a particular elective position, then an election re-run will be ordered immediately by the ELCOM and continuously so, until such a time as a winner by simple majority emerges. 3. In the event that a candidate rejects the clear and transparent results of an elective position for which he is a candidate, such a candidate will have no recourse to any Courts of Law whether in Nigeria or outside the shores of Nigeria. 4. In the event that a candidate rejects the results of an elective position for which he is a candidate and where such a rejection is acceptable to the ELCOM, then an election re-run will be ordered immediately by the ELCOM and continuously so, until such a time as a winner by simple majority emerges. 5.0: POST-ELECTION A. Announcements & Formalities All voting related announcement and formalities must be concluded on the day of the election without prejudice to the time of the day, except where otherwise directed by the ELCOM. B. Assumption of Office 1. All winners of elective positions selected by simple majority will on the same day at the conclusion of all Election proceedings take an oath-of- office administered by either a competent and reputable practicing Legal Practioner or a serving Judge from any arm of the Judiciary, without prejudice to the time of the day. 2. Once an oath-of-office is administered on a successful candidate, such a candidate immediately assumes the duties and responsibilities of the office for which he/she is elected into. No event whether by omission or commission including any Court action subsequently taken nullifies such an oath-of-office or diminishes the authority vested on such a successful candidate by the constitution of FEDGOKOSA.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Mar 2014 17:29:22 +0000
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