… Justice Anyansi’s troubleshooting saves Edo FA
… Aghedo commends NFF, Edo Govt for intervention
At last, a new and legitimate leadership emerged in Edo State Football Association, as Fred Newton Erhunmeunsee has been elected Chairman of the Executive Board, after a kinly contested Edo FA election on Friday in Benin City.
Fred Erhunmeunsee, Director of Sports, Benson Idahosa University, and former referee polled a total of 15 votes to win the number one seat ahead of former FIFA bagged referee, Engr. Emmanuel Edekin Emiere, who polled seven votes to come second in the contested EFA election which held at the Airforce Base, Airport Road, Benin city.
Kindness Ohiowele won the position of vice chairman with ease as he was returned unopposed, while Johnbull Edosomwan came third after securing just one vote, and Egbon Victor who was absent did not get a vote.
Among the five candidates duly screened and cleared for the chairmanship position, Benjamin Owerei formally announced his decision to step down for Fred Erhunmeunsee, who eventually won the race at the congress.
On the two seats of Edo South, Micah Igbinovia with 19 votes and Stephens Anadin with 16 votes, edged out Michael Uhuangho who scored 12 votes.
Faith Ojeaga (22 votes) and Kennedy Ugbodaga (21 votes) secured the two seats of Edo Central.
In the Edo North seats contest, it was a landslide victory for Paul Ojeikhesoba, while Charles Olubayo was unavoidably absent due to state function abroad. The remaining two seats will later be filled through bye election.
In his acceptance speech, the newly elected Edo FA Chairman, Fred Erhunmeunsee, said he was happy not only for his victory at the poll but because peace has finally returned to Edo FA. He promised that he will not disappoint Edo people and NFF.
“I am grateful to Edo State Government, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and all the electorates for the confidence they have in me.
“It has been a long but unnecessary fight, but I thank God the truth is out, election is over, it is victory for all of us; no losers. Edo football is the winner.
“Let me specially thank NFF delegation led by our first Vice President, Felix Anyansi Ageu and the Chief of Staff to Edo State Governor, Hon. Osaigbovo Iyoha for sparing their time to monitor the electoral process till the end. It would have been impossible, but for their intervention,” Fred said.
Earlier in his address, the immediate past Chairman, Dr. Moses Aghedo, expressed his gratitude to Governor Godwin Obaseki and his Chief of Staff, Hon. Osaigbovo Iyoha for allowing an enabling environment that ensured a peaceful election.
He added, “Anyansi led NFF delegation and the nation’s football governing body under the leadership of Ibrahim Gusau, have again proven to Edo people and the world that they are the round peg in the round hole. We must ascribe our success to NFF and Edo State Government.They have helped us to put to shame enemies of Edo football.” He said.
In an interview with journalists after the FA election, the first Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Felix Anyansi, said that the victory is victory for football.
According to Mr. Felix Anyansi, “Edo is a big football state and we couldn’t have allowed the state to fail. As a matter of fact, we didn’t come to Edo with any directive but we came to Edo to see for ourselves.
“On getting to Benin, we discovered that all that were trending on social media were not the true position of things.
“There was actually no issues in Edo FA. It was just some kind of lies and misunderstanding among members. We corrected the anomalies and get things going.
“We must also commend the outgone acting chairman, Dr. Moses Aghedo, whose interest was to conduct a free and fair election and handover. He was tired and eager to hand over to legitimately elected executive.
