By peace Udugba
The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) Reaffirms Commitment to Democratic Elections, Addresses Misleading Court Claims
The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) wishes to inform its members and the general public that it remains fully committed to conducting its forthcoming National Elections. The election will hold on a tentative date to be duly communicated to all members and stakeholders in due course.
This clarification has become necessary in light of recent events, particularly attempts by Mr. St. Maradona M. Johnson — a previously suspended member — to disrupt the electoral process by citing a 2013 Federal High Court judgment. This judgment has long been addressed and rendered obsolete through various internal resolutions and reconciliation efforts.
Clarifying the 2013 Judgment
The 2013 court judgment, which pertained to the administration of then-President Ibinabo Fiberesima and the AGN Board of Trustees (BOT), did not in any way confer leadership authority on Mr. Maradona. At no point did the court pronounce him President or grant him any executive mandate over the Guild.
In August 2017, a landmark Peace and Reconciliation Meeting held in Enugu resulted in the collective and complete implementation of the court’s directives. Key resolutions from that meeting included: (continue with listed resolutions)
Implementation of the 2013 Judgment and Reconciliation
In compliance with the 2013 judgment, the Guild took the following steps:
– Dissolution of the affected Board of Trustees (BOT) as directed by the court
– Constitution of a new BOT
– Formation of a Government of National Unity to stabilize the Guild
– Appointment of Dr. Ejezie Emeka Rollas, MON, as Interim National President
– Appointment of Mr. St. Maradona M. Johnson as Treasurer, as part of the peace accord
Following this reconciliation, Mr. Maradona withdrew all pending legal actions against the Guild and served as Treasurer for two terms — first in the Interim Government and subsequently under the elected administration of 2019. He voluntarily chose not to contest for a subsequent term.
These facts clearly establish that the Guild has fully complied with the 2013 judgment. The matter has since been overtaken by goodwill, internal reforms, and the Guild’s evolving institutional structure.
Commitment to Rule of Law and Due Process
The current AGN leadership reiterates its respect for the rule of law and affirms that it will never act in defiance of any valid court order. However, it strongly condemns any attempt to misrepresent resolved legal issues as a tool for obstructing the Guild’s democratic process.
The Actors Guild of Nigeria remains focused on transparency, unity, and progress, and calls on all members to remain vigilant and supportive of the electoral process.
Rejecting Disruption, Embracing Progress
The Guild considers Mr. Maradona’s recent actions a calculated attempt to sow discord by exploiting outdated legal interpretations for personal advantage. Such efforts undermine the collective progress and renewed professionalism that the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) now represents.
The Way Forward
AGN remains firmly united under the focused leadership of its National President. While the national election date remains tentative pending necessary clarifications, the Guild assures all members that the finalized date will be communicated transparently and without delay.
Members are urged to remain calm, law-abiding, and steadfast in upholding the values of unity, democracy, and institutional integrity that have guided the Guild’s recent progress.
To this end, the AGN has mandated its legal team to respond to any emerging legal matters through appropriate channels, ensuring the Guild’s integrity is preserved and that the upcoming elections are peaceful, fair, and constitutionally sound.
