NFF Elections: How Yahaya Kwande, Ahmed Fresh, Felix Ayanshi Emerge Victorious

By Admin For over six decades football election into executive committee has never been so perfect, despite various agitation from different angle and September 20th came like just any other but left on his trail a victory worth celebrating with  the return of Amaju Melvin Pinnick as the Nigeria Football Federation President who has trail the blaze for getting a second term in office, the current board also enjoys the trio of board member who are celebrating their  third term tenure as a board member.  The duo of North Central representative Ahmed Yusuf Fresh and Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande and South East representative Felix Ayanshi will be part of the current board with vast experience at the national level having served previously in the last two boards The trio came into football top office in the Aminu Maigari led board and were subsequently elected back into the board with Amaju Melvin Pinnick  during the Warri election and  they also scaled the biggest hurdle of their lives when they were challenged in their various zones. The election into the North Central Zone was more dramatic with challenges coming from Alhaji Musa Talle the FCT Football Association Chairman who later step down at the last minutes and Kwara State Football Chairman, Mallam Busari Ishola who was a torn on the duo of Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf fresh and Hon. Suleiman Yahaya Kwande. The election had series of run off with the 1st ballot giving a close result of  Ahmed Yusuf Fresh getting Sixteen votes, Yahaya Kwande with Thirteen votes and Busari Ishola with ten votes, while the 2nd run off was between Ahmed Yusuf Fresh and Suleiman Yahaya Kwande. It was just too close to call with Ahmed Yusuf Fresh leading with twenty-two votes to Suleiman Yahaya Kwande twenty-one votes. While the final round of voting was between Suleiman Yahaya Kwande and Busari Ishola and the delegates will have to decides who joins Ahmed Yusuf Fresh on the board and Suleiman Yahaya Kwande took his popularity to discharge Busari Ishola with an amazing run of twenty-eight votes to fifteen to seal his returns for the 3rd term as an Executive Board  member of the football fraternity. And for South East, Chief Felix Anyanshi Agwu returning to the board goes beyond the 90 minutes pressure he withstand when his team Enyimba are playing, and he had to contest with three candidates for just a single slot, Chidi Ofo Okenwa enjoys the privilege of being a custodian of the other  available slot for the region. Despite having grey horns as his other contestants Emmanuel Ochiagha the vice Chairman of  Imo State, Jude Obikwelu and Pastor Emeka Inyama, who withdrew from the contest on the  floor of the elections Felix Anyansi-Agwu was Still never his normal self has his  fate lies in the hand of the Congress men and fortune smiled on him with an unimaginable landslide over his foes, he pulled thirty-two votes with his nearest opponent sharing a single figure of 8 and 3 votes between themselves respectively. Speaking after the election Hon. Suleiman Yahaya Kwande in his amiable manner said, this election for me is one of the most amazing one for me because I was only bothered for my friend Alhaji Ahmed Fresh and I was only praying he makes it ahead of me and once that was done I know I will come through and I appreciate the challenge from Mallam Busari Ishola for reminding us that we must be on our feet for the next four years, he said. On his part Alhaji  Ahmed Yusuf Fresh, who was emotional shaken by open betrayal of trust from his allied has taking the election as a phase of life,   it was indeed very tough, i never envisaged what happened but that is election for you and we must learn to live with these surprises.  Speaking further,  Ahmed Yusuf Fresh is happy with the election despite agitation from some quarters. For me  no doubt this is the most peaceful election i have witnessed since i came into football over two decades ago. It was free and devoid of malpractices and crisis from start to finish, and those who has envisaged trouble from some people will see that our board is a peaceful one and we all love the game of football and I know you saw that being demonstrated in Kastina. And for Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu contesting against his brothers was not for enmity but for the  development of the game according to him his 3rd  term returns will serve as an avenue to unite the South East. It is good to have other people challenge you and that's the beauty of elective position and here their is no victor no vanquish football is the winner, Let us grow with that mentality that we are family and and its all about the development of football in the country. We are going to bring everybody together to contribute their side to the game, and I also want to thank everyone who believe in my ability and those who  has made  possible for me to be part of board for me there is  no bitterness no rancour football is the winner we are not on board to make enmity with anyone's but rather we work for football He has a passionate message for the people of the South East whom he will be their eyes and hear on the current board.  I am going there to represent my people South East I am going to be their servants I will not be a Lord onto my people and I will also stand for their interest and  I will also work to unite my people and I believe with unity football will grow.