By BROWN CHIMEZIE

Crisis appears to be brewing in the Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPMDA), Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, Lagos-Badagry expressway, following the setting of a parallel Caretaker Committee for the purpose of conducting election into the executive of the association.

Already, protests have started rocking the market staged a demonstration on Monday against the purported setting up of the parallel Caretaker Committees.

News Express learnt that that Lagos State government had given the Caretaker Committee in the market under the leadership of Sir Sunny Igboanuzue between 60 to 90 days which would lapse by November 6, 2021 to conduct the election of new executives for the market.

It was gathered while the Igboabunuzue Committee has set machineries in motion for the conduct of the election, the Attorney-General of Lagos State allegedly set up a parallel Caretaker Committee for the same purpose of conducting election for electing new executives for ASPMDA.

However, the leadership of the market has obtained a court order restraining the new caretaker committee from conducting any election in the market.

During the protest, the traders carried placards with the following inscriptions: “Joe Igbokwe, stop deceiving Lagos State government; ASPMDA IS Peaceful; Lagos State government should respect court order; Attorney-General of Lagos State should not politicize ASPMDA; We don’t want crisis in ASPMDA; Minister of Trade and Investment come to our rescue”

Addressing newsmen during the demonstration, one of the ASPMDA presidential candidates, Chief Chukwunoso Okafor of ASPMDA Divine Mandate (ADM), queried the reason for setting up the parallel caretaker committee since the one that is headed by Sir Sunny Igboanuzue has already complied with the directive of the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, by setting up an electoral committee.

According to Okafor, the electoral committee that was set up by the Igboanuzue Caretaker Committee has published guidelines for the conduct of the election and the candidates were already campaigning.

He said that the Igboanuzue Caretaker Committee has, in no way, defaulted since the deadline that was given to them would expire by November 6, 2021.

According to him, those who set up the parallel caretaker committee were agents of destruction bent on causing crisis in the market.

Chief Okafor appealed to the Lagos State government to give peace a chance by allowing the Igboanuzue-led Caretaker Committee to complete the job which they have already shown compliance.

In his contribution, another presidential candidate, Chief Okwudili Chukwuma of ASPMDA Progressive Forum (APF), said those who initiated the setting up of another caretaker committee were afraid of losing the election.

Chukwuma said that he and his group have total confidence in the electoral committee headed by Igboanuzue, which he noted, was set up in accordance with the ASPMDA constitution, adding that they were already in the field, wooing voters.

However, he said that what those who initiated the parallel committee were calling for is block by block election which is not in their constitution.

Also contributing, the Chairman of ASPMDA Youth Forum, Hon. Ekene Odo, said that the Sir Sunny Igboanuzue Caretaker Committee was still working within the timeframe of between 60 to 90 days given to them by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and, as such, should be allowed to conclude their assignment.

He said that any attempt to impose another caretaker committee in the market would be vehemently opposed by the youths.

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