The Gombe State Association of the Deaf (GOMSAD), has on Saturday elected new state executive council members that will steer the affairs of the state for the next four years.
The election was conducted peacefully at Bubayero Primary School, Gombe LGA of Gombe state on Saturday 10th December, 2022 between the hours of 10 am to 5pm respectively.
Speaking briefly before the commencement of the election, the chairman of the electoral committee, Mal Abdullahi Awak, admonished contestants and their supporters to exhibit the spirit of Deafhood throughout the period of the election.
He noted, “this election is not a do or die affairs, I urge you all to be mature and conduct yourselves well to ensure the election start in and end in peace”
” I assure you that the electoral committee under my watch will maintain neutrality to the best of our ability”
The Nigeria National Association of the Deaf (NNAD), North East Zonal Coordinator, Comrade Bashiru Usman Kellumi, an indigene of Gombe state, appealed to both the contestants, voters and observers to maintain calm and support the electoral committee to perform their duties without bias.
His words, “my dear brothers and sisters in Deafhood, contestants, supporters and observers, I implore you all to be calm and give maximum support to the electoral empire to carry out the task”
He added that, “the National Headquarters of NNAD under the indefatigable leadership of Hon. Dr. Chidi Olujie stood on the principles of fairness, equity and justice and will not condone injustice in its entirety”
The GOMSAD election, INN learnt, was the seventh since the Association was found in 1996 and December 2022 election was the first time LGA delegations voted in place of general members.
List of winners at the end of the election were Blessed Charles, Kaltungo LGA who emerged as chairman after narrowly defeating two opponents Musa Jauro Julde, Dukku LGA and Yusuf Mohammed Lawan, Gombe LGA who came second and third respectively.
Other winners were Safiyanu Ibrahim Bappah, Gombe LGA, Secretary General, Safinatu Ibrahim, Dukku LGA, Treasurer, Hadi Mohammed, Gombe LGA, Internal Auditor, Yusuf Yahaya, Akko LGA, Youth wing Leader, Ishaq Abdullahi, Yamaltu Deba LGA, Zonal Coordinator for Gombe Central zone.
While those who came out unopposed include Umaru Adamu Shinga, Gombe LGA, PRO, Maryam Saidu Bachama, Balanga LGA, Social welfare Officer, Sulaiman Abdullahi, Akko LGA, Chief whip, Nuhu Mohammed Bello, Akko LGA, Deputy chairman and Alheri Nuhu, Balanga LGA who emerged as women leader and Chairperson of Gombe state Deaf Women Association respectively.
Conversely, the GOMSAD election was ranked the best in the North East zone by election observers. The observers were thrilled with the level of preparation and execution put forward by the electoral empire.
Among the observers were NNAD represented by, National Assistant Secretary NNAD, Comrade Sagir Ibrahim Tilde, JONAPWD Gombe state chapter represented by Secretary General, Mal Shuaibu Adamu, and North East Association of the Deaf (NEAD), led by Comrade Auwalu Mohammed Darazo.