The recently held election into the Lagos State chapter of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria (AGN) may have come and gone, but not without being characterised with controversies, as some would have expected. The election, which was keenly contested by popular comic actor, Victor Osiagwu, and the former PRO in the last dispensation, Don Pedro, has produced two chairmen. Another NGF you would say.
At the election held inside the premises of the Surulere local government, Lagos, violence erupted, which resulted into the ballot box being taken away and the election result declared at O’Jez Restaurant located inside the National Stadium, also in Surulere.
Victor Osiagwu was announced as the winner of the election, which didn’t go down well with his opponent, Don Pedro, who claimed he was cheated and his mandate stolen away from him by forces who working against him.
On Monday, just two days after the election, Victor was sworn in as the state chairman of the guild along with his executives.
However, at a guild’s meeting held at the Haile Selassie Hotel, Surulere on June 27, Don Pedro was sworn in as the Lagos State chapter chairman of the AGN by the immediate past chairman of the state chapter, Emeka Rising.
Speaking with Nigeriafilms.com on the matter in an interview, Don Pedro claimed he is the authentic Lagos State chairman of AGN. He noted that he has the full support of the members of the guild in the state and boasted that Victor cannot win an election in Lagos State.
“I am the authentic chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the guild,” Don Pedro stated. He further added that, “Victor didn’t win the election. Everybody at the election will tell you that I clearly won the election. From the ballot papers displayed, it was very evident that I defeated Victor. It was while his supporters saw that I was winning that they claim I wasn’t qualify for the election.
The AGNEC cleared me, I was thoroughly screened. So, how come they claim I wasn’t qualified for the election for not being a member for five years?”
When asked if the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) scenario is not what is playing in Lagos AGN, Don Pedro said it is not so. He declared that he is the only Lagos AGN boss recognised by the members of the guild.
While reacting to Don Pedro’s claim that he (Don Pedro) is the authentic AGN chairman in Lagos, Victor, in a phone chat with Nigeriafilms.com, said he is the clear winner of the election and urged Don Pedro to stop parading himself as the Lagos AGN chairman.
“I won the election and was duly sworn in with members of the executive. Ask him, who are his exco members? Does he alone parade himself as the chairman, secretary, PRO or Chief Whip of the guild in Lagos?
“You people should not just give him audience because he is not the chairman of Lagos AGN. It is the same man (Emeka Rising) he worked against before that he ran to to install him as chairman. Can you imagine that?”
It is not clear whether the matter would be resolved anytime soon. However, Don Pedro told Nigeriafilms.com that he won’t step down if told to do so because Victor allegedly stole his mandate and should be the one to step down for him.
