Incumbent Gumel emerges NOC president

The incumbent president of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Habu Gumel, has been elected for another term in office, defeating close challenger and former minister of sports, Sani Ndanusa, by 21 to 19 votes at the elective congress of the NOC held in Jalingo, Taraba state on Thursday, The PUNCH reports.

With 21 out of the 40 votes, Gumel secured an absolute majority of 50 per cent plus one as the keenly contested election into the president’s seat climaxed the congress of the body just as eight other positions were also contested.

Gumel’s victory at the poll secured a third consecutive term and a fifth term overall for the Jigawa-born IOC member, whose last eight years in office has attracted heavy criticism. He was first elected as NOC president in 2002 and was in office until 2010. He returned again in 2014 and was in office till 2022 before winning another term at the election.

Solomon Ogba of Bobsled & Skeleton Federation secured 24 votes to emerge as the first vice president against Francis Orbih of badminton who secured 16 votes while Ishaku Tikon of Table Tennis Federation ran unopposed for the second vice presidential position and secured 38 votes.

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Representative of the athletes in the body and former D’Tigers captain, Olumide Oyedeji secured 24 votes to emerge as third vice president against Daniel Igali of the wrestling federation who had 15 votes while Maria Wophill of the athletics federation had one vote. Olabisi Joseph of School Sports Federation will serve as the fourth vice president after polling 23 votes to beat Rahinatu Garba and Hauwa Akinyemi.

For other positions, Tunde Popoola of Hockey Federation won the general secretary’s seat with 24 votes; Abdullahi Mohammed emerged as deputy general secretary unopposed while president of the Nigerian Basketball Federation, Musa Kida, will serve as treasurer, and Tony Nezianya as public relations officer.

 After the rounds of voting, chairman of the electoral committee, Ibrahim Galadima confirmed the return of the elected officers who will run the affairs of the NOC for the next four years.