By Anne Azuka
Sunday Odebode has emerged the new President of the Sports Federation at the 2023 Paralympic Committee Elective Congress, after beating Maduakor Chukwudi and Ezenwanne Charles to emerge winner with 12 votes out of 19 total votes cast.
Odebode alongside other five positions: 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, Secretary General, Assistant Secretary General and the Treasurer were elected to run the affairs of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria (PCN) for the next four years.
The keenly contested election, which took place at the Stephen Keshi Stadium Asaba on Monday was conducted by the PCN Electoral Committee headed by a former National coach, Badminton Nigeria and one-time Kwara state Director of Sports, Coach Tunde Kazim.
Other positions include 1st Vice President Shodipo Ayinde, Ugwunwa Flora emerged as 2nd Vice President, Isah Suleiman is the new Secretary General, Agbado Douglas is the Assistant Secretary General and Etti Olawale is the Treasurer.
Announcing the results of the various positions, Coach Tunde Kazim said; ” the winners having satisfied the requirements of PCN and scored the highest number of votes cast, are hereby declared winners”.
The Electoral Committee Chairman thanked the delegates for their peaceful and orderly conduct, while urging the winners to be magnanimous in victory and carry every member of the PCN along for the greater good of Paralympic sports in Nigeria.
The immediate past President of PCN, Brig. Gen Emico Eruwa, thanked the Paralympic Federation for the opportunity given to him to serve.
He expressed delight that the desire to have persons of integrity take over from his team was achieved at the Elective Congress.
In his Acceptance Speech, the new PCN President, Sunday Odebode expressed appreciation to the delegates for the confidence reposed in him.
Odebode however, assured that the new executive would consolidate the achievements of its predecessor in the quest for the advancement of Paralympic sports in Nigeria.
Minister of Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, who later addressed the new executive and delegates during a brief swearing in ceremony assured that PCN would continue to enjoy the support of his Ministry, as it had proven to be one of the peaceful Sports Federations in the country.
Dare who was impressed with the outcome of the Elective Congress urged the new exco to uplift the wellbeing of PCN.
Picture: PCN New Exco during swearing in on Monday in Asaba.
