By Henry Ibya, Makurdi
Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, Benue State chapter, Comrade Michael Vembe, has alerted the public of plans by a group to disrupt its forthcoming election but assured members of the union and the public that the elections will hold under a free, fair and peaceful atmosphere, urging security agencies to arrest the suspects.
Vembe who made his position public during an interview with journalists yesterday in Makurdi, while reacting to allegations from a group led by one Simon Anchaver, parading himself as interim caretaker committee chairman of NUP, denied knowledge of either faction or crisis in the union to warrant formation of this body, insisting that the union in the state is intact.
He explained that contrary to claims by the group, the forthcoming elections being organized by the union under his leadership would be supervised by the national secretariat of NUP and would be held as planned, describing as baseless allegations of plans to rig the election in his favour by installing his loyalists as delegates.
Vembe argued that even as the state chairman, he does not know the delegates voting in the election for the fact that NUP allow local government officials who will be the likely delegates to handle their affairs themselves without interference, clarifying that local government branches who he does not even know all, are the only people to determine the fate of any contestant including himself, only for the state to verify, insisting that NUP election is always transparent and could not be manipulated.
Vembe argued that leader of the group Anchaver was only afraid of losing election having discovered he lost touch with even his local branch leadership, alluding that though he has picked a form to contest, but lacked support from delegates and afraid of losing hence the allegations.
On the issue of purchase of nomination form for the governor which the group said was done to find favour from the the governor, Vembe explained it was a collective decision by pensioners across the state as sign of appreciation for the good works including prompt payment of monthly pensions, accusing leader of the group of plot to disrupt the elections, urging security agencies to monitor his activities and possibly arrest him to allow peaceful electioneering process.
Vembe who emphasized commitment to democratic principles,assured the public that his leadership would always remain focused to conduct a credible, transparent and peaceful election, urging his opponents to be issue based in campaigning to win the confidence of delegates rather than resulting to false and baseless claims.
Outlining his achievements to include clearing of outstanding office rent debts, securing conducive secretariat for pensioners and liaison with government to ensure prompt payment of monthly pensions among others, Vembe, promised to build a permanent secretariat if given a second term, appealing to delegates to give him their support.
Efforts to get reaction from Comrade Anchaver, leader of the group regarding his alleged plot to disrupt the forthcoming NUP election in the state failed at the time of filling this report.
