By Okosun Dennis
New Executive Officers have been elected to pilot the affairs of Lekki Atlantic Gardens Estate (LAGRA), Alabeko, in the next two years.
The well-contested election saw the emergence of Pastor Oladipo Ojutalayo as the new Chairman, who is replacing the outgoing Chairman, Pastor Olufisayo Sogbola, while handing over will take place in January 2024.
The election conducted by the Lekki Atlantic Gardens Independent Electoral Commission (LEGIEC) under the Chairmanship of Mr. Uba Offorbuike, on Saturday, December 9, 2023, was held at the LAGRA Secretariat, Road 1, Alabeko.
Other offices contested for included that of the Vice Chairman, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, Public Relations Officer, and Welfare Officer.
Sequel to the election which commenced at about 9 am, the LEGIEC Chairman explained the parameters that qualify residents eligible to cast their vote.
According to the Estate Constitution, such a qualified resident must be a financial member who would have met 60% of his/her Service Charge payment to the estate coffers.
According to LEGIEC regulations, accreditation which began at 9 am was concluded by noon voting commenced immediately and voting ended at 3 pm. There were also provisions for landlords and ladies residents outside the state to cast their votes through online platforms.
The breakdown of total votes cast garnered by each of the elected executives indicated that the new Chairman, Pastor Oladipo Ojutalayo scored 36 votes to defeat his rival, Engineer Gbajobi Adewale, who scored 16 votes cast of the 54 accredited votes cast both physical and online voting.
While Ojutalayo had 28 votes from the physical vote cast, he scored eight votes from the online votes. Engr Adewale scored 14 physical votes and two online votes.
The indefatigable Mr. Emmanuel Nwokporo, the incumbent Vice Chairman dusted his opponent to retain his position after defeating Mr. Oba Onjewu with 22 physical and three online votes cast to emerge with 25 votes cast while Oba Onjewu, who scored 17 physical and six online votes totaling 23 votes as three votes were voided.
However, other positions returned unopposed were that of the Assistant General Secretary, won by
Mr. Christopher Omon Otii with 34 physical and five online votes totaling 39 votes cast while eight votes were voided.
Also, returned elected was Miss Aaliyah Ejim who clinched the position of the Public Relations Officer with 33 physical and six online votes while nine votes were voided. The new Treasurer, Mr Solomon Njoku scored 39 votes both physical and online voting while nine votes cast were voided.
For his impeccable contribution to the development of the estate, especially taking a cursory look at the welfare department, Chiemeze Mbachu stood tall amassing a total vote cast of 40 for both physical and online vote cast.
According to him, he pledged an unalloyed loyalty to the estate and to surpass what he had achieved during his first term as the Welfare Officer of LAGRA.
In his acceptance speech, Pastor Oladipo Ojutalayo thanked God for the opportunity to stand as a candidate and applauded the residents for sacrificing their time to elect him as their new Chairman.
“I accept the position of the Chairman of Lekki Atlantic Gardens Estate after a keenly contested election. I appreciated my co-contestant, Engr Gbajobi Adewale for standing tall to congratulate me in the spirit of sportsmanship.
“To the EXCO, I applauded their dexterity for conducting a peaceful election and the LEGIEC, under the guidance of Mr. Uba Offorbuike and other amiable officers, who meticulously conducted a free and fair election. To the residents, just as pointed out in my manifestos, I will strictly justify the opportunity given me to serve; ‘Together We Build.’
Earlier, after declaring the winners, Mr Uba Offorbuike appreciated the residents for conducting themselves in the most orderly manner that galvanized into a peaceful election.
To those who voted online, he thanked them for their time despite time disparity to have keyed into the drive to ensure that there emerged new Executives.
Highpoint was the presentation of the Certificate of Return to all the elected Executives. Customary to the electoral norms, all the agents of all the contestants signed the collated results before it was declared.
Meanwhile, the elected Executives will be sworn in on January 27, 2024, during the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
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