The Ekiti State Football Association (EKFA) has elected new sets of officers in the state that will run its affairs for the next four years in line with the provisions of its constitution.
The election of the new officers of the Football Association (FA) in Ekiti State was done through the Elective Congress of the Ekiti State Football Association held at the Benaiah Hotel, Iyin Road in Ado Ekiti during the week.
Declaring the 2019 Ekiti State Football Association Elective Congress opened, the Electoral Committee Chairman, Barrister Tomi Osakinle announced the lists and composition of the delegates to include one delegate each from the 16 local government areas of the State, Referees’ Association, Supporters’ Club, Players’ Union and Coaches’ Association totaling 20 delegates in all who will be eligible to vote during the elective Congress.
After the voting process was concluded, the sorting and verification of the votes casted were done before the final counting in the presence of all the observers and representatives of the respective aspirants and in the full glare of security agencies present at the venue of the Congress after which the winners of the election were openly declared and their swearing in conducted.
The Electoral Committee Chairman, Barrister Tomi Osakinle announcing the results of the election declared Mr. Adebayo Olanlege as the elected Chairman of the Ekiti State Football Association and Mr. Segun Adelakun as the Vice Chairman elected. Other members of the State Executives of the Ekiti State Football Association elected include Mr. Ariyo Amos Yomi; Mr. Olusola Babatola; Mr. Samuel Daramola; Mr. Ilesanmi Fatukasi; Mr. Oladipo Ebenezer; Mr. Shyllon Aregbesola and Mr. Gboyega Afolabi.
The Electoral Committee constituted had Barrister Tomi Osakinle as the Chairman; Mr Remi Sholola as the Vice-Chairman and Mr. B.S. Idowu as the Secretary. Other members of the Electoral Committee include Mr. Kola Owoseeni, Mr. Mayowa Afolabi and Barrister Felix Adewumi.
In his reaction, the Electoral Committee Chairman Barrister Tomi Osakinle while fielding questions from the press said the process of the elective Congress has been very fair and fantastic.
“It was an open ballot system. As you can see, the ballot box was displayed in the open and the process has been very transparent.”
On the conduct of the delegates and the aspirants, he testified that the aspirants and the delegates conducted themselves well without congesting or suffocating themselves at the venue.
“We do not have any fear experiencing any post election crisis or problem on the conduct of the Congress and the election. He equally commended the security arrangements put in place for the election. He stated that any member who is aggrieved on the outcome of the election should make use of other Committees responsible to take care of any post election crisis within the Ekiti FA instead of anybody taking laws into their own hands.
“The outcome of the election and the Congress is the true reflection of the votes of the delegates”, Barrister Tomi Osakinle, the Electoral Committee Chairman submitted.
The new elected Chairman of the Ekiti State Football Association (NFA), Mr. Bayo Lanlege said the process leading to his election as the new Chairman was very peaceful.
“The process has been very free and fair and everybody had the opportunity to do what was best and exercised their conscience as required. Every delegate in the election had the opportunity to make their choice without anybody forcing them or coercing them.”
He promised to continue from where the outgoing Acting Chairman stopped. He pledged to create a football culture throughout the 16 local government areas of the State.
“My emergence as the Chairman is what God has destined. The Kayode Fayemi administration is an exciting government achieving good success every day. I believe that through sports, not only football, a lot of the youths engaging in social vices will be taken off the streets and meaningfully engaged”.
Packaged by Emmanuel Adeniran
