As the chapter elections of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) continues, the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal chapter in Lagos, Wednesday, got a new set of executives.
The chapter which has been under the leadership of Engr. Fabian Okafor for the past ten years, first, as Sole Administrator and later as the elected chairman of the chapter now has Otunba Micheal Adekoya as its Chairman Elect.
Adekoya who is the Vice Chairman of the chapter in the outgoing dispensation beat his only opponent in the contest, Prince Jerry Nwokedi with a total of 122 votes as against Nwokedi’s 72 votes to emerge the winner of the election which was devoid of sharp practices.
Sixteen contestants slugged it out in the election that produced eleven man executives to pilot the affairs of the association in the chapter for the next four years.
Chief Isaiah Okonkwo garnered a total of 124 votes to beat his only opposition Etoo Nwilo who score 67 votes to emerge as the Vice Chairman of the chapter.
Ditto was the case for Mr. Ugorji Okwudili who polled a total of 109 votes to beat his opponent in the election, Mr. Lawrence Chibueze Peters who got only 68 votes to be elected the Publicity Secretary of the Association in the chapter.
Chigozie Adindu also beat Obed Nri with a total of 109 votes as against 51 votes polled by Mr. Nri to clinch the Financial Secretary position while Rose Stella Okorocha polled a total of 112 votes as against 74 votes procured by her opponent. Chinedu Ogbonna to emerge as the Welfare Officer of the Chapter.
Also, Christopher Tony Akpan was returned as the Customs Agents relations Officer with a total of 122 votes as against 54 votes garnered by Mr. Godwin Okey Emeruem.
Other contestants returned unopposed were; Simon Onyesor as Ethics, Complaints and Discipline Officer, Jude Okoye as the Treasurer, chigozie Uzochukwu as the Assistant Secretary and Stanley Ezeanya as the Secretary.
In his speech shortly after declaring him the winner of the election, the Chairman Elect, Otunba Micheal Adekoya expressed his happiness over the development and gave glory to God even as he described the entire electioneering process as not an easy task.
Adekoya disclosed that this year alone, he had contested elections into three different organizations as the chairman and won all of them so far, attributing the feat to God.
On what he will bring to bear in his association as the new chairman, he said, “ you should expect change from my end. Really, i have been the Vice Chairman for the past four years and I know what it takes to be the chairman”.
“I have not been a rebel to my chairman, I am so loyal to him and he has shown me the way and I believe by the grace of God also, he will led through”.
Adekoya who was siting side by side with his opponent, Prince Jerry Nwokedi during the announcement of the result had this to say,”it is one family, you can see we embraced ourselves because he is my person. Nwokedi, we have been together , we have been communicating, discussing, there is no harm, o problem between us and then we will work together”, Adekoya said.
He however promised that with his emergence as the chairman of KLT chapter of NAGAFF, the starving of the Terminal of consignment would soon be a thing of the past pledging to embark on massive capacity building for his members to enable them be attuned to the demands of their profession.
Meanwhile, the former Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Tincan Island Port chapter, Mr. Azubuike Ekweozor has been returned unopposed in an election that was conducted for the chapter Tuesday.
As a result,Ekweozor and nine other elected officials of the chapter will now run the affairs of the chapter for the next four years.
NAGAFF 2014 Election: Adekoya emerges KLT Chairman, Ekweozor too
Saint Augustine
Saint Augustine is a seasoned freelance journalist and the chief editor of Primetime Reporters.