Over 10 years after its last convention in Abuja, the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), has successfully held a convention and elected a new leadership.

The unity convention which lasted for 6 days in Gombe State, ended Tuesday morning with the election of Comrade Bello Bala Shagari from Sokoto state as the National President.

The Congress had, during a business session Monday night, passed a resolution for the expulsion of the immediate past President, Comrade Murtala Muhammad and also barred him from being recognised as former President of the Council.

Muhammad, popularly known as ‘Ganji’, was said to have written to the Ministry of Sports and Youths Development, extending his tenure as caretaker committee chairman by four years, a move, the Honourable Minister, Barr. Solomon Dalung, the Board of Trustees and various organs of NYCN frowned at.

One of the affiliates of the Council, Centre for African Development and Advocacy (CADA) was also delisted from the Voluntary Youths Organisations (VYOs) by the resolution of the congress, for dragging the Council severally to different courts over “needless issues”.

The congress also overwhelmingly adopted the BoT of NYCN under the leadership of Amb (Dr.) Dickson Akoh and its Advisory Council led by Hon. Ben Duntoye.

Out of 104 affiliates VYOs, only 99 participated with three representatives each as well as five delegates were accredited from each of the 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The 20-man National Transition Committee led by Mayor Enujeko also participated in the election, bringing it to a total of 500 delegates accredited for the congress.

A total of 3 aspirants were screened for the position of National President, but one Blessing Akinlosotu announced his withdrawal from the race during the election, making Comrade Bello Bala Shagari poll a total of 249 votes and his opponent Almustapha Atuku (Kogi) with 234 votes, while 15 votes were cancelled.

Below is a list of the newly elected officials:

National President – Bello Bala Shagari

Deputy National President – Innocent Uduanya Nwobodo

Vice President (North Central) – Pwajok Sele Sesan

Vice President (North West) – Lukman Majidadi Bisallah

Vice President (North East) – Muhammad Suhailu Abubakar

Vice President (South East) – Echem Ikeh Chibuike

Vice President (South West) – Saliu Marufdeen Adekunke

Vice President (South South) – Kinsley Ibanichuka

National Treasurer – Uko Michael Ukpong

National Legal Adviser – Barr. Ahmad Tahir Daramola

National Organizing Secretary – Jeba Muktar Sani

National PRO – Awujoola Kehinde Charity

National Social Secretary – Umoru Millicent Emike

National Financial Secretary – Eniola Temitope Adeyemi

Assistant Secretary General – Odunze Caleb Eberechukwu

Organizing Secretary (South East) – Agwucha Izunna Koka Chidirue

Organizing Secretary (North East) – Adamu Hussein Yunusa

Organizing Secretary (South-South) – Avwoke Chriton

Organizing Secretary (North Central) – Yerima Muhammad Muhammad

Organizing Secretary (South West) – Williams Oladipupo Oluwaseun

Organizing Secretary (North West) – Aminu Ubale Funtua

The offices of National Secretary and National Auditor were not occupied as no one contested for the positions.

There was protest by one of the VYOs, Liberty Club International that the three delegates from the club were not allowed to cast votes, despite being accredited.

Despite the protest, the Chairman of Electoral Committee, Lamir Aminu went ahead with the process and returned Shagari as elected.

The 21 officers who were returned at the congress have since been sworn-in by the Chief Registrar of Gombe State, Abdulsalam Alexander Jatau.

Addressing newsmen shortly after the swearing-in ceremony, Shagari thanked his colleagues for the matured way they conducted themselves during the congress, while pledging to do all within his powers to unite stakeholders and bring an end to factions in the Council. (NAN)

•Photo shows delegates of the National Youths Council of Nigeria (NYCN) casting their votes during the congress in Gombe

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