By Mohammed Nasir Shuaibu (Bauchi State Correspondent)
The Bauchi State Chapter of the Nigeria Sports Writers Association (SWAN) has elected Mr Bala Bawaji as Chairman.
Bawaji was elected alongside eight other executive officials who would run the affairs of the chapter for the next three years.
They're Bala Bawaji as Chairman, Adamu Shehu Imam (Vice Chairman), Elizabeth Kah (Secretary), Mubaraq Aliyu Kobi (Assistant Secretary), Selya Yarnap (Treasurer), Abubakar Usman Shehu (Financial Secretary) and Imrana Yakubu Galoji as Welfare Officer respectively.
Similarly, two members were also appointed to serve as Ex-officio in the state chapter. They are: Abdullahi Shehu Yankari of BATV and Mohammed Nasir Shuaibu of Nigerian NewsLeader Newspaper.
The Chairman SWANECO, Mr Isola Mike Adeyimi said the election into various positions was emanated from the tenure expiration of the former Exco's months back as stipulated in the SWAN Statute.
He listed the Seven (7) positions to be contested as Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, Welfare Officer, Financial Secretary, respectively.
He explained that they're nine candidates who indicated their interest to contest for the seven positions. Out of the seven seats to be contested, only two (2) positions of Vice chairman and Financial Secretary went for the elections and the remaining five (5) positions were unopposed.
Mr Ishola further emphasised that out of the thirty four (34) members only full and accredited members would be allowed to be voted and be voted for as was contained in a circular sent in from the National Secretariat.
Earlier, the National President of SWAN, The National President of Sport Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Isaiah Benjamin, who was ably represented by the Zonal Vice President, North East, Comrade Ahmed Amshi congratulated the contestants and desolved the former Exco and declared the elections process opened.
He advised the candidates not to see the elections as a do or die affair in order to have a rancoyr free elections without any rancor with a view to promoting the SWAN activities to greater height in the state.
The VP and National Welfare Officer who monitored the election process from beginning to end, announced Adamu Imam Shehu of Media Trust as winner with a total number of 12 votes against Abdullahi Shehu Yankari of Bauchi Television (BATV) who scored only 2 votes. While Mohammed Nasir Shuaibu of Nigerian NewsLeader Newspaper voluntarily stepdown for his running mate, Abubakar Usman Shehu (BATV) for the position of Financial Secretary respectively.
Similarly, Mohammed Nasir Shuaibu of Nigerian NewsLeader Newspaper and Abdullahi Shehu Yankari of BATV were appointed as Ex-officio in the State.
The newly Exco members were immediately sworn- in and take oath of allegence for their respective offices which was performed by the VP Ahmed Amshi in the presence of the National Welfare Officer, Ex-officio Mr Austin Ajayi, Usman Abbas Gungura and other members.
In his speech, the newly elected chairman, Bala Bawaji, thanked members for giving him and his Exco members the mandate to lead the chapter for the next three years in Bauchi state.
While commending the SWANECO committee for a job weldone, he equally appreciated members contributions to the overall success of the election and assured an all inclusive leadership during his tenure. NNL.
