By Mercy Akuba
It was a joyous moment for members of Edo State SAWMILL ASSOCIATION as Hon. Friday Aquakhian emerges winner of the just concluded association election with 114 votes against two other presidential candidates of the Edo State SAWMILL Association.
Comrade Friday Aiguokhian who scored 114 votes against Comrade Osazee David Igbinovia that had 49 votes and comrade Dominic Edobor who polled 43 votes respectively to emerge President elect of Edo State SAWMILL Association said he is full of excitement and humbled as members found him worthy to pilot the affairs of the group.
The election which took place at the conference hall of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) State secretariat in GRA, Benin City had 208 delegates from the 10 zones in Edo State participated in the electoral process.
Addressing members of the association who participated in the election shortly after he was declared President elect, Hon. Friday Aquakhian commended the electoral committee for conducting a transparent , free , fair and credible election .
He promised to discharge his duty in line with the law binding the association and with the fear of God. He assures members of the association of all inclusive government.
He however announced the out gone President. Comrade Lucky Odeh as the grand Patron of the Edo State SAWMILL Association for creating an enabling environment to conduct a free, fair and transparent election that produced the first elected President of the Association without imposing a President on the group.
He however announced his Mother , Madam Florence Ero as the Matron of Edo State SAWMILL Association.
While he appointed Dr. Nosa Abusowan Chairman Board of Trustee of the association as comrade Ogbomo Sunday becomes a member of the board.
Speaking earlier, the chairman electoral committee of SAWMILL Association, Mr. Sunday Ogbomo eulogized the outgone president for insisting that elected officers must take over from him to enable effective management of the Association activities .
He advised all elected officers to work as a team and project the association in a good light before the public.
Speaking further the vice president elect,Mr Paul Obhiebo who polled 104 votes to defeat Mr. Enofe Godfrey who scored 102 votes expressed satisfaction on the process of the election.
According to him, the committee that conducted the election has proved that if INEC wants to conduct a free , fair, credible and transparent election in 2023, it is possible.
He said as the vice President, he would work with the President diligently to ensure the association lives up to his expectations.
” This election was keenly contested and this is the beauty of democracy. When things are done in the right way.”
Elected officers sworn in by the chairman electoral committee, Mr. Friday Ogbomo are , President, Comrade Friday Aiguokhian, Vice President, Comrade Paul Obhiebo, Secretary, comrade Holex Ibhansebhor, Public Relations Officer
, Madam Ese Abangbee, Financial Secretary, Madam Irene Omoraka and Treasurer Mrs, Roseline Ogbemudia.
The peak of the celebration was members receiving their certificate of return presented by the Chairman, electoral committee, Mr. Friday Ogbomo.