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AD-USA
2007 Election & Strategy Committee
Teleconference
January 15, 2005 at 9pm
Minutes
Attendance: Hon. Baba Adams, Hon Dele Alade, Dr. Emmanuel Dada, Dr. Olatunji Ojeranti, Hon Alhaja Oyejide, and Hon. Yemi Abioye
Call to Order:
The meeting was brought to order at approximately 9:30pm.
Agenda Items:
- Install Committee's Chairman and Secretary
- Discuss how to run the committee
- Define the short term and long term goals of the Committee
- Other Items
1. Install the Committee's Chairman and Secretary
Yemi Abioye was installed as the committee's secretary after Dr. Dada brought forth the motion and after it was determined that she was running unopposed. There was confusion as to who would be the committee's chairman. Dr. Dada thought he should be the chairman since the committee's goal would coincide with and overlapped with that of the Fundraising Committee. Dr. Ojeranti thought he was the chairman and had been appointed by AD-USA National Chairman Oloye Awojoodu at the December 11th 2004 general meeting in New Jersey. The committee felt that it was a by-law issue and agreed to consult the by-laws and appoint a chairman at the next meeting. However Dr. Dada agreed to act as coordinating chairman for the present meeting.
2. Issue of how to run the committee
Dr. Dada stated that the standard member number for the committee was seven and should be kept at seven. Mr. Alade asserted that the maximum number of committee members should be seven with the quorum being the majority number 4. He also stated that only the executive committee had the power to increase the member number of the committee and not the committee itself. He further stated that the committee could from time to time invite guests to specific meetings if the guest's knowledge and expertise was deemed important and needed. However this person would only be considered a guest and not be allowed to become a member. The committee agreed to this recommendation.
3. Define the short term and long term goals of the Committee
Each member expressed what they felt should be the short term and long term goals of the committee. Prior to the meeting Dr. Dada emailed his suggestions, which were:
- Reviewing the 2003 AD's Nigeria Primaries and making recommendations to include how ADUSA based candidates will get fair deal in AD-Nigeria Primaries
- Recommendations on eliminating/reducing elections rigging in Nigeria including inter party. Fair elections in Nigeria via strengthened JUDICIARY.
- How to prepare AD ready to be a viable alternative home for disaffected Nigerians as well as those in opposition parties like PDP- expanding the membership geography
- Fund raising strategies for 2007 elections: USAID and other organizations
- Identifying and supporting candidates for governorships, etc. (e.g. courting national assemblies members to run for higher offices.
- Helping Local Govt. Chairmen to succeed as a platform to take over from PDP controlled grip.
- Recommendations to avoid the pitfalls of scenario similar to bad deal with PDP presidential candidates. (AD supporting PDP presidential candidate with no AD candidate in the 2003 elections.)
- Strategies on alliances with progressive parties: suggestions to narrow down political parties in Nigeria to no more than three political parties.
Not every item on this agenda was discussed except items iii) and iv). Mr. Alade felt it was important to identity members of AD-USA who were planning on running for office in 2007 so that we could began planning and preparing on ways to support them. However he felt it wasn't so important for AD-USA to campaign in the U.S. Ms. Oyejide and Ms. Abioye disagreed. They felt it was just as important to publicize AD-USA in Nigeria as well as in the U.S. Ms. Abioye felt that publicizing AD-USA activities and candidates would help the organization fundraise as well as increase membership. Dr. Ojeranti also felt it was important to publicize AD-USA and that it was also important for AD-USA to invite guests to our meetings who have already campaigned in Nigeria so that we may learn from their experiences. Regarding membership Dr. Ojeranti made a suggestion of obtaining the pledge list of AD-USA and calling all inactive members to possibly motivate them to become more active. It was also suggested that an email be sent to the general membership asking for advice and opinions regarding AD campaigning in 2007. Mrs. Oyejide felt it was important that take advantage of opportunities and obtain skills for how to best run for office while we were in the U.S. She also advised us that Gov. Tinubu's birthday was March 29th and we should take out advertisement in a major newspaper in Nigeria wishing him a happy birthday on behalf of AD-USA.
4. Other Items (Recent political developments occurring in Nigeria)
Dr. Adams brought up the latest political developments that were occurring with PDP in Nigeria. He stated that AD should take advantage of what seemed as possible decampment of some PDP governors. He suggested that we send a letter to AD-Nigeria suggesting that they meet with these leaders to discuss them possibly joining AD provided that they agree to AD's agenda.
ACTION ITEMS
Item Member Responsible
Send email to General Membership Secretary Yemi Abioye
Requesting for any ideas and advice
Regarding AD Campaigning
Send an argent message to AD-USA Not determined
Executive committee asking them to
meet regarding
- Tinubu Birthday on March 29th
- Sovereign National Conference
- Establishing AD-USA's representatives in Nigeria
- Communications with AD-Nigeria Executives
- Opportunity of Possible PDP defectors
Get list of Membership, and those Not determined
Active and inactive
Provide final AD-USA by-laws to Dele Alade
All committee members
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 11:45p.m. The time and date of the next meeting was scheduled for February 18th at 9pm.
Minutes created by:
Yemi Abioye
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