Sharafadeen Okunade has been elected chairman of the Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) following an election conducted under the supervision of the association’s national leadership.
Gatekeepers News reports that the poll was organised after the NMA’s national body assumed control of the electoral process to resolve a leadership crisis that had affected the Lagos branch.
According to a statement issued by the electoral committee and jointly signed by Returning Officer Olufisayo Aribaba, alongside electoral officers Goke Akinrogunde and Ramon Moronkola, the election was conducted electronically on July 28.
The exercise was supervised by the NMA national leadership led by Afekhide Omoti, with the participation of the association’s secretary-general and deputy secretary-general.
“The elections were conducted with 22 candidates contesting for 10 offices,” the committee said.
“Voting commenced at 9:00 a.m. and closed at 2:00 p.m., with over 2,800 members participating. This represents an unprecedented level of participation in the electoral history of the NMA Lagos State branch.”
Alongside Okunade, the newly elected officers include Moruf Abdulsalam as first vice-chairman, Olabisi Olanrewaju as second vice-chairman, Chinedum Eluogu as secretary, Olunike Ogundare as deputy secretary, and Morolayo Kikelomo Onamusi as treasurer.
Other officials elected are Adeola Salawu as publicity secretary, Korede Hunpatin as social secretary, Aishat Bello-Taslim as financial secretary, and Olanrewaju Obadeyi as internal auditor.
The newly elected executive members were sworn in immediately after the announcement of the results.
Speaking during the inauguration, Omoti urged the new leadership to foster peace within the association, rebuild members’ confidence and promote unity after the recent crisis.
He also charged the executive to prioritise the welfare and professional interests of doctors in Lagos State.
The NMA president further appealed to the association’s affiliate bodies to ensure the prompt remittance of members’ dues deducted from salaries, noting that timely payments would enable the association to effectively fulfil its obligations to members.
