It was a beautiful Monday morning. The weather was cool, a relax ambiance at Morning Side Suites, Taslim Ellias Close, Victoria Island venue of Lagos State Football Association's 2019 Electoral Congress.
The Congress' election would determine the fate of LSFA board members and above all who pilot the affairs of the best runned Football Association in Nigeria, LSFA.
The narration was never ambiguous from the onset. It's always going to be a battle between Seyi Akinwunmi a man with credible performance and unflinching support for Grassroots development, a man with heart of gold who has brought smile and succor to the lives of several hopeless children. A man that has redefined and reshape the dimension of LSFA in positive trajectory, a man who believes there is still much more to be achieved as football and development is ever continuum against his opposition Liameed Gafar, the Proprietor of 36 Lions FC.
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The Congress began with Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi highlighting the success recorded in the last 4years by his board and re-emphasis his stance that whatever the outcome of the election is he's going to take it in good faith as keeping malice and vendetta is for the feeble minds.
What a man with a Golden heart!
Motion to dissolve the board and for the election to began was moved and Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi calmly vacate his seat as the Chairman LSFA and humbly locate a sit almost at the extreme end of the hall.
All the 13 delegates that will determines who chair the affairs of LSFA were all in attendance. They know they have to make a choice between a man with astute experience, proven performance, humble and meticulous against a man whose rally point has been 'Let's take it from them' without a proven antecedent to referenced what to expect if giving the mandate.
The pattern of voting was reel out and it was clearly stated that a winner must emerge with 2/3 majority votes or a re-run will take place immediately. Whatever the case, D-DAY was upon us and a winner must emerged.
The first round of voting was unable to produce a clear cut winner albeit Seyi Akinwunmi winning the tie by 7 votes to 6 votes against Gafar. But that result did not meet two-third requirements as enshrined by the electoral act hence a re-run.
Before the re-run commence the two contestants were given a rare last minute chance to canvas delegates for vote and win their heart with their manifesto.
At this point tension has soaked the air, the pressure is evident and the journey has become tougher. A litmus test of character and leadership was upon the two candidates. One was seen exhibiting grandstanding and dictatorial attitude but, then, Seyi Akinwunmi maintained his cool.
When push comes to shove, Seyi sagaciously deployed a persuasive tactical approach to canvas delegates for votes. He gave them convincing and genuine reason to earn their vote and in the midst of it he was never seen displaying autocratic or draconian attitude as most incumbents would have done.
The 2nd round of voting commence with stakeholders, journalist and other observers in the hall all poise to see who will emerge as the winner of one of the keenly contested FA election in Nigeria.
The Lagos state FA election refused to take the route of other States whereby the incumbent has emerged winners with atleast 90% of votes were claimed to be casted in their favours. Lagos is unique, a State of equal opportunity devoid of disenfranchisement and Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi maintain the standard that could only befit a State of Excellence.
The second round of votes was casted and counted. Behold! Seyi Akinwunmi emerged as the winner having scored 9 votes against 4 votes scored by his opponent.
It was a victory for the man of the people, the man with more than a million lion's heart yet remains humble and non violent.
In his sportsmanship charismatic manner Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi was first to embrace the runners up which in such situation the reverse should have been the case but that shows one of his magnanimous attribute.
In his acceptance speech, Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi said he would bring all the families in football together in order to move the Association forward and for the improvement of soccer activities in Lagos.
He said:
"I have said during my campaign that my business is to unite all the football stakeholders in Lagos state towards achieving a common goal of moving football forward in the state, this has not changed.
"We need to consolidate and make sure that our programmes are fully implemented to have a better football culture in the state.”
"We will inaugurate Lagos State Football Association Council which will expand the activities of our Administration. The Five Divisions are going to come in to that council and we will meet atleast once in a quarter to forge ahead together.
We also hope we would be able to digitalize the entire activities of LSFA."
For the membership of LSFA Board, Mojeed Adedingbin defeated the incumbent, Wale Joseph with eight votes against five for Joseph.
Also, for the LSFA Women Seat, Oluwayemisi Cole had 11 votes to defeat other two aspirants, Raliat Abdul-Salam who had two votes and Oluwakemi Popoola who failed to secure a single vote.
The composition of the board of LSFA, however, has Ajasa Oyekan and Moses Adebanjo unopposed and Adedigbin and Cole as five-board members.
The election had 13 delegates that comprises of the LSFA which includes delegates from the five divisions, Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos and Epe. Others are the Referee Association and Nigeria Professional League.
Other representatives are the Nigeria National League, Nigeria Nationwide League, Nigeria Women League and the coaches Association.
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