The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) has announced the appointment of Comrade Rachel Oluwatosin Ibiwoye as its Acting National President with immediate effect.

This was disclosed in a statement to Technext by the Lagos State Council of the Union. Her appointment is coming two days after it formally recognised David Nosa Aigbonran as the new and substantive national chairman of the union, following the resignation of Adedamola Adeniran.

The appointment was also supported by a congratulatory message from the Rivers State Council of the union, signed by its chairman, Comrade Nosa Omoruyi.

With her appointment, Comrade Ibiwoye Rachel Oluwatosin is expected to unify the union, strengthen internal democracy, and advance the cause of app-based transporters across Nigeria, the statement said.

Reacting to the development, the Public Relations Officer of the union’s Lagos State Council, Comrade Iwindoye Steven, congratulated the new Acting National President, describing her appointment as timely and well-deserved. He further urged members to rally behind her leadership while restating confidence in her ability to take the union to greater heights.

“Comrade Oluwatosin has shown loyalty, dedication, and competence in service to our union. We are confident she will take AUATON to greater heights. We wish her strength, wisdom, and courage in this new responsibility.”

In its own congratulatory message, the Rivers State Council of the union described Comrade Oluwatosin Ibiwoye’s appointment as a well-deserved one, stating that her dedication, resilience, and unwavering commitment to the growth and unity of the AUATON have earned her the remarkable responsibility.

“We are confident that under your leadership, the union will continue to thrive, strengthen its structures, and uphold the welfare of every member across the nation. The Rivers State Council pledges its maximum support and cooperation as we work together to achieve our collective goals and advance the interests of platform drivers nationwide,” the council said.

AUATON suspends David Nosa as President

The decision to appoint Comrade Ibiwoye as the Acting National President comes even as the NEC announced the indefinite suspension of the former president, Comrade David Nosa Aigbonran.

Comrade Nosa was appointed following the resignation of the pioneer president of the union, Comrade Adedamola Adeniran in July , after a protracted crisis.

Before then, Comrade Ibiwoye, then a vice president, had tendered a resignation letter, which Comrade Nosa allegedly failed to reject as advised by the Central Working Committee (CWC) and the NEC.

Thus, Comrade Nosa’s suspension was due to acts of misconduct and constitutional breaches, which include a failure to implement the Central Working Committee (CWC) and NEC’s resolution on Comrade Ibiwoye’s rejection letter.

He was also accused of altering CWC and NEC resolutions by declaring himself a substantive President, despite only being Acting President. This, the NEC says, violates Article 16B(v) of the union’s constitution.

Furthermore, Comrade Nosa was accused of introducing a non-CWC member into a CWC meeting on personal grounds while relieving an authorised CWC administrator of duty without due consultation.

He was also suspended for his refusal to implement the NEC’s reconciliation resolutions involving former president, Comrade Damola and the Acting General Secretary, Comrade Ayoade. Finally, his non-recognition of and refusal to participate in NEC activities were pointed out as a reason for his indefinite suspension.

“Such actions were contrary to the principles of collective leadership, transparency, and due process, which AUATON stands for,” the NEC said.

Inside sources close to the matter also informed Technext that Comrade Nosa was suspended due to his move to make himself the substantive president rather than the acting president he was appointed as. This did not go down well with the NEC and CWC members.

“Nosa was appointed as acting president after Damola resigned, but he started branding himself as the substantive president even though the constitution clearly says that he should act for 90 days, then conduct an election between himself and Oluwatosin because they are the two deputies. However, this self-branding as president didn’t go down well with a lot of NEC and CWC members, which eventually led to his suspension,” the source told Technext.

There is, however, a disagreement on whether the new Acting President, Oluwatosin Ibiwoye, would also be required to act for 90 days, after which she would have to conduct elections.

While some members think that should be the case, others believe that, since her co-deputy president has been suspended indefinitely, that provision of the constitution should not apply to her.

It will be interesting to see how the union navigates this turbulent chapter of its history.