Violence disrupts AGN elections in Benin

By Joseph akahome

The challenges facing the Actor’s Guild of Nigeria, AGN, appear unceasing as elections have once again been postponed.  The elections, scheduled to take place on Friday, April 27, 2012, suffered a setback after certain factions of the guild set about allegedly ruining the entire process with violence.

Unconfirmed reports claim that there were scuffles among delegates who had come for the elections in Baden Hotel, Benin City, leading to a commotion late into the night that left the process uncompleted.

However, embattled president of the guild, Segun Arinze, in a phone chat with NET, denied any reports of violence, insisting that it was a shouting match that ensued between members of certain state chapters of the guild that eventually disrupted the elections. ‘The events of last night are regrettable. It is a pity that we, who are supposed to be role models, would resort to such behaviour. I take full responsibility for what happened and I apologise to the candidates involved.’

Asked if that meant another postponement, he replied thus: ‘I will be meeting with the BOT on Monday to take a drastic action.’  The elections, which have suffered three previous setbacks, also had its credibility challenged recently by factional leader and movie actor, Emeka Ike, through a letter to the Edo State governor calling for the elections to be halted.’

In the letter dated April 23, 2012, he had asked governor Adams Oshiomhole to halt the election on the ground that it was illegal, as a restraining order from a Lagos High court had already been issued against the process.