By Our Correspondent
Concerned financial members and stakeholders of the Ambrose Alli University (AAU) Alumni Association, Home Branch, Ekpoma, have rejected the recently constituted three-member Appeal Committee to investigate alleged irregularities in the branch’s August 14 election, insisting that “justice, not just a committee” is what is required to resolve the crisis.
The group, which had earlier protested the conduct of the Home Branch election, said the composition and terms of reference of the committee announced by the Worldwide President of the association, Dr. Clifford Imade Omozeghian, did not sufficiently guarantee the independence, impartiality and credibility needed to investigate what it described as “gross electoral irregularities, systemic disenfranchisement and subversion of the democratic process.”
In a statement dated August 22, 2026 and signed by Dr. Obasanmi Jude, Comr. Benedict Oseyomon, Onobhayedo Austin, Dr. Mamudu Zebede, Mr. Aideloje Monday, Mrs. Ookosun Patience and Mr. Okechukhu James, the concerned members acknowledged the decision by the worldwide leadership to constitute the committee, but said the step was inadequate to address the issues raised in their petition.
“We need justice, not just a committee. We need an independent investigation, not an internal validation exercise. We need the truth, whatever that truth may be,” the group declared.
They said their demand was not for a predetermined electoral outcome but for a process capable of establishing what actually happened during the disputed election.
“Our ultimate interest is to protect the integrity of the Ambrose Alli University Alumni Association, restore confidence among members and ensure that the Home Branch emerges from this crisis stronger, united and governed by its Constitution,” they stated.
The group specifically demanded the immediate establishment of a neutral caretaker arrangement for the branch, arguing that the executive produced by the disputed election should not continue to exercise unrestricted authority while the validity of the election remains under investigation.
According to them, “No party should derive substantial institutional advantage from an electoral process whose validity is still under investigation.”
They also called for the reconstitution of the Appeal Committee to include persons demonstrably independent of the disputed election and the national executive structure.
They suggested the inclusion of “a respected independent legal practitioner or a senior member of the Bar; a respected elder/member of the Home Branch who was not involved in the electoral process and is not a member of NEC; and a representative from another zone/branch with no connection to the disputed election.”
The petitioners said the present composition, which has the Vice President Worldwide as Chairman and an Ex-Officio NEC member as Secretary, could create a perception of institutional conflict of interest, particularly because some of the complaints relate to the conduct and neutrality of officials connected with the electoral process and national leadership.
They stressed that their concern was not an allegation of personal bias against any committee member, but the need for a process that would be regarded as impartial by all sides.
“Justice must not only be done; the process must be seen to be capable of producing justice,” they said.
The group further demanded a more detailed and forensic mandate for the committee, arguing that the instruction to “thoroughly examine all issues raised in the petition” was too broad.
They want the committee to examine the voters’ register and establish the number of eligible financial members; determine the criteria used to include or exclude voters; reconcile accreditation records with votes cast; physically and forensically examine ballot papers and result sheets; review relevant communications, notices, photographs and videos; investigate allegations of intimidation and improper interference; scrutinise the conduct of the Electoral Committee and NEC observer; and address every specific prayer contained in the petition.
The members also demanded that all election materials be secured immediately and handed over for investigation.
These, they said, should include the voters’ register, accreditation register, ballot papers, result sheets, declaration sheets, attendance records, financial records, notices and correspondence, electronic communications, photographs, videos and other materials relied upon in conducting or validating the election.
They called for the materials to be submitted within 48 hours, warning that evidence must be preserved against alteration, loss or destruction.
At the heart of the dispute is also the question of who was entitled to vote. The group wants the committee to apply the relevant constitutional provisions on financial membership, voting rights, election eligibility, accreditation procedures and the powers of the Electoral Committee.
“If the Constitution provides voting rights to all qualifying financial members, then any restriction or exclusion must be justified by an express constitutional provision and not by an ad hoc decision,” they maintained.
The petitioners alleged that the election was characterised by widespread irregularities, including ballot-box stuffing, proxy voting, votes allegedly recorded for absent persons and discrepancies between accredited voters and final vote totals.
They further alleged that documentary evidence showed that the Electoral Committee “actively manipulated the outcome by issuing multiple ballot papers to designated proxies for the Chairmanship position.”
The group argued that if established, such allegations would constitute substantive breaches capable of undermining the credibility of the entire election rather than mere technical or procedural errors.
They also renewed their call for a comprehensive financial audit of the Home Branch, saying the issue had not been adequately captured in the terms of reference of the Appeal Committee.
They requested examination of financial records, bank statements, receipts, expenditure records, dues and subscription records and financial reports, adding that where the Appeal Committee could not conduct the audit, the Worldwide President should refer the matter to an independent finance or audit committee with a defined mandate and reporting timeline.
Another major demand is that the investigation should be completed within a definite period, preferably 14 days.
The concerned members said the reference to submitting the Appeal Committee’s report “on or before the forthcoming National Convention” was insufficiently precise and could allow the process to drag on.
They questioned the propriety of holding a national convention while the association remains embroiled in an unresolved electoral dispute.
“Above all, how can you be having a National Convention in ‘unstable waters’. Members are grossly aggrieved and definitely poor participation is expected,” they stated, recalling what they described as poor attendance at the last National Convention and the dissatisfaction reportedly expressed by the Vice Chancellor of AAU, Ekpoma, Prof. Mrs. Eunice Omonzojie.
The group also objected to wording in the Worldwide President’s letter warning that contrary action by members could be construed as prejudging the petition.
They urged the leadership instead to assure petitioners and witnesses of protection from intimidation, victimisation or retaliation for presenting evidence or raising legitimate concerns.
The concerned members said the appeal process must not become an avenue for simply validating the outcome of the disputed election.
“The purpose of an appeal or investigative process is not to protect an outcome. Its purpose is to establish the truth. If the election was properly conducted, the investigation should establish that clearly and the result should be strengthened by the findings. If the election was substantially compromised, the Association should have the courage to correct it. Either way, the Association wins when truth and due process prevail,” they said.
They also demanded that the findings of the investigation be made available to Home Branch members, arguing that the membership had a right to know whether its complaints were properly examined and what conclusions were reached.
The statement welcomed the Worldwide President’s acknowledgement that the report of the NEC Monitoring Observer “appears not to be fully consistent with the issues and allegations raised in the petition,” describing the admission as further justification for a genuinely independent investigation.
While commending the decision to institute an investigative process, the group warned that the credibility of the exercise would ultimately depend on its independence, scope, transparency and outcome.
They appealed to the Worldwide President and National Executive Council not to allow the Appeal Committee to become “a mere procedural response to a substantive electoral crisis.”
The members concluded by reaffirming their commitment to peaceful dialogue, due process and the lawful resolution of the dispute, saying their objective was to protect the integrity of the AAU Alumni Association and restore confidence among its members.
Three alternative headlines
AAU Alumni Poll Crisis: Aggrieved Members Demand Neutral Caretaker, Independent Probe
AAU Alumni Election: Stakeholders Reject Appeal Panel, Demand 14-Day Independent Investigation
AAU Alumni Home Branch: Petitioners Raise Fresh Questions Over Disputed Election, Demand Justice