By; USMAN NASIDI, Kaduna.
In compliance with constitutional provisions of the organization Rigasa Action And Awareness Forum (RAAF) Kaduna, has once again, elected new executive officers expected to run the affairs of the forum in the next four years.
The election process commenced at about 9:00am on Sunday at Government Day Secondary School, Makarfi Road, Rigasa, Kaduna with registration of agents, screening of eligible voters and casting of votes which all took place in orderly manner.
Present, during the process were RAAF Electoral Committee (ELCOM) and Caretaker Committee (CTC), Traditional Leaders, Security Agents with internal and external observers and Community members.
RAAF Kaduna is arguably the biggest and mother organization of Rigasa that receives due attention from key stakeholders in its efforts to drive in developments to the area for the benefit of the community.
According to sources at the event, such elections of the forum were not observed since 2017 after Arc. Abubakar Rabi’u took over the leadership of the Forum before handing over to his VP One, Comrade Isma’il Muhammad and Malam Aminu Halilu on acting capacity in 2023 that culminated in the formation of the Caretaker Committee (CTC) headed by Malam Yusuf Wada.
Meanwhile, before pronouncing the winners of the election, Chairman of the Electoral Committee (ELCOM), Malam Abdulmummuni Mohammed expressed joy with gratitude to Almighty God for a peaceful conduct of the election, while appraising both members of the ELCOM, CTC, contestants and the electorate for ensuring positive outcome.
Malam Abdulmummuni urged all the contestants to accept the results with good faith, saying that in every election there must be a winner and a loser, but the most important part is for all to believe in the spirit of having good faith of the outcome of the results for the benefit of the Forum and progress of the community.
However, while pronouncing the winners, the ELCOM Chairman, declared that Malam Hassan Abubakar returned elected as the new RAAF President having defeated his opponent Malam Aminu Halilu Umar with 69 votes to 19, Pharm. Mustapha Umar as Secretary General, while Hajiya Sadiya Ibrahim emerged as the woman leader.
Similarly, other executive officers elected were Sani Nasiru as VP1, Haj. Zainab Ado Gwaram VP2, Comrd Usman Nasidi Of New Nigerian Newspapers (NNN) and Deputy Editor GTK-Online returned elected as the PRO1 unopposed, Mustapha Dan Saudia PRO2, Mubarak Musa as PRO3, Abubakar Muh’d Target as Ass. Sec Gen, Hauwa Aminu as Assistant Woman Leader.
Others were; Nasiru Hassan as Financial Secretary, Zainab Abubakar as Treasurer, Abubakar Mika’il as Organizing Sec., Aliyu Muhammad as Chief Whip, Tijjani Haruna Shehu as Auditor Gen.
Also elected were; Ibrahim A Ibrahim as Welfare Officer, Aisha Muhd Ladan as Ass Treasurer, Fatima Isah as Welfare, Usman Dan Asabe as Ass Chief Whip, Yusuf Musa as Ass. Org Sec and Auwal Ahmad Orbit as Ass. Fin Sec.
In his acceptance speech, the newly elected RAAF President, Malam Hassan Abubakar, expressed gratitude to God and to entire members of the Forum for their trust and faith in him and in other excos.
He reiterated his readiness to lead by example for the benefit of the people of Rigasa and the development of the community, Igabi LG and Kaduna State by extension, saying the people would never regret voting him to serve as the President of the association.
Malam Hassan on behalf of the entire newly elected officials, while soliciting the support of people, especially his opponent Malam Aminu Halilu Umar, pledged to run an inclusive administration.
Similarly, He extended his warm regards to the office of the District Head of Rigasa for his untiring support and timely Intervention over the affairs of the association to ensure a peaceful conduct of the election and by for being a father to all.
The newly elected President, thanked the Electoral Committee (ELCOM), Caretaker Committee (CTC), Security Operatives, members of the team and the RAAF for their selfless contributions towards ensuring a peaceful conduct of the election.
