Movie Producers’ Recent Elections Declared Invalid

The just-concluded elections of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP) in Asaba and Lagos states have been declared invalid.

Prior to this annulment, information reaching eelive.ng has it that there is division among the movie producers regarding the election of the group’s national excos.

Following the elections, which the AMP’s Board of Trustees (BOT) declared outrightly illegal and breach of the AMP constitution, some high-ranking movie producers in the association have been parading themselves as newly-elected national excos of the association.

Having met with the Board of Patrons (BOP) and Elders of the AMP, the BOT, in a statement, announced that all organs set up for the purpose of the elections are hereby dissolved.

As a result of the elections’ annulment, the BOT stated that an Interim Caretaker Committee “is hereby constituted to run the affairs of AMP, with members.”

The Caretaker Committee members of the movie producers’ association include –Emeka Ossai who’s the Chairman, former AMP President Paul Obazele, Ego Boyo, Emem Isong, Fidelis Duker, and Sam Azubuike.

Read the BOT’s full statement below:

The Board of Trustees, BOT, Board of Patrons, BOP, Elders of the Association of Movie Producers, AMP, and Nollywood stakeholders, on Saturday, September 12, 2020, under the special invitation of the BOT, met to review the two parallel elections of the association that were held in Asaba and Lagos on Saturday, August 29, 2020, which has plunged our Association into crisis.

For the avoidance of doubt, the position of the BOT is that the election held in Lagos was outrightly illegal as it did not conform to any known norm of AMP, while the election held in Asaba breached the constitution and highly reverred conventions of AMP in relation to the conduct of election, among other relevant matters, especially the publication of an elligibe voters’ list that is mutually ratified by the contestants before the election – this was not done, hence necessitating the current impasse.The emergence of two parallel Executives from these elections, which the BOT considered to be characterized by illegalities and breaches, made headlines in both traditional and social media and became an embarrassment to our hitherto peaceful and well respected Association.
The BOT was therefore compelled to step in with a resolve to quickly bring about an amicable resolution of the dispute and to restore lasting peace to AMP. Despite the illegalities and breaches that characterised the organisation of these elections, the BOT was determined to employ waivers and persuasion where necessary to ensure a peaceful resolution of the crisis.

To achieve this objective , the BOT invited the two Presidents that emerged from the elections urging each to come with one Adviser for consultation , where necessary, in the course of the meeting.

This meeting was held in an atmosphere of peace and the BOT at the end urged the two Presidents to meet and decide, on their own, how best the crisis could be resolved while stressing the need for sacrifices so that AMP is not enmeshed in a lingering crisis. The purpose of leaving the two Presidents and their parallel executives to find the terms for peace is first and foremost to reduce the high wire tension that had enveloped our Association . We were convinced that their meeting would calm frayed nerves and reduce the visible enmity. Secondly and this is important, we did not want the BOT to be accused of any form of bias in the course of resolving this unprecedented crisis that AMP was faced with.
We therefore gave the two parties a date to submit their decision or resolution to the BOT in the hope that the BOT would have no choice but to endorse it and a new AMP Executive will emerge without further rancour.

The right and power of the BOT to take the necessary steps to resolve the crisis is based on two premises:
(i) The BOT is the highest authority in AMP, and
(ii) The BOT is the only legally recognized organ of AMP in the event of the expiration of the tenure of an elected executive council (EXCO) and (or) absence of an appropriately constituted Executive Committee (EXCO), to step in , in times of crisis, to take over the affairs of the Association and take measures it deems best to restore a lasting peace.

Unfortunately, the deadline given the contending parties expired as they were unable to arrive at an amicable resolution of the crisis

While the BOT was still trying to find ways to mend fences, a police case arose between the contending parties in the elections, thus taking the internal affairs of AMP outside the confines and structure of the association without exhausting the peaceful option made available by the BOT, the only organ with legitimate power to step in , in time of crisis .

This action of taking issues arising from a crisis-ridden election to the police sadly escalated the crisis and deepened the enmity.

In the face of these heightened crises, the BOT having consulted widely and having held the crucial meeting of Saturday, September 12, 2020, resolved as follows:
i. That the two parallel elections on Saturday, August 29, 2020, in Asaba and Lagos are hereby ANNULLED and all organs set up for the purpose of the elections are hereby DISSOLVED.
ii. That an Interim Caretaker Committee is hereby constituted to run the affairs of AMP, with members as follows – Chief Emeka Ossai (Chairman), Mr. Paul Obazele (former AMP President), Mrs. Ego Boyo, Emem Isong, Mr. Fidelis Duker and Mr. Sam Azubuike.
iii. That the Caretaker Committee shall have the mandate to carry out the following assignments :
(1) Seek all ways to bring about lasting peace in AMP through consultations with stakeholders and members;
(2) Look at the remote and immediate causes of the current crisis in AMP;
(3) Suggest solutions on the way forward based on the findings from (2) above;
(4) Review the current constitution of AMP with the view of eventual ratification by the Congress;
(5) Investigate and resolve the current financial questions arising from the elections;
(6) Prepare and ascertain a comprehensive database of AMP members before August 29, 2020 (indicating their status – financially active or not active, supported with identity cards and proof of dues payment), and
(7) Organize a valid AMP Election within six (6) calendar months from the date of constituting the Caretaker Committee (Note that all former contestants in the annulled elections would have no need to pay to contest for the election should they be interested in same).

The BOT urges all AMP state executives and members nationwide to kindly understand that the BOT was compelled to take these measures in order to ensure the restoration of peace in our dear Association. We therefore crave your indulgence to support our quest for peace and unity in AMP and cooperate with the Caretaker Committee to help them actualise their mandate.