Sani Zubairu emerges as new President of Nigeria Football Referee Association 

By Wale Mustapha

A retired FIFA referee, Alhaji Sani Gwabba Zubairu has been elected as the President of Nigeria Football Referees Association for the next four years.

Zubairu alongside other new executives were elected at the association’s electives congress held in Ilorin, Kwara State on Saturday.

The former match arbiter who until his emergence as President was the association’s Deputy National President after he defeated his sole challenger, Elder Daniel Olokor by a landslide 53 votes to zero.

Following his election, Zubairu, who lost his bid to represent Bauchi Constituency in the House of Representative in 2019 , replaces Otunba Tade Azeez who served as the association’s president for eight years.

In other elections, Dr. Suleiman Omeiza Usman was return elected as the Association’s General Secretary.

Former two-time National Publicity Secretary, Kelechi Mejuobi has also been elected as the Association’s National Deputy President as Engineer Emmanuel Edekin Imiere emerged National Vice President 1 with Ibrahim Umar Fagge coming as the new National Vice President 2.

Comrade Jibrin K. Bancir polled 43 votes to defeat Alhaji Salman Fowomola with 11 to emerge as new National Financial Secretary.

Other newly elected executives of the NRA are  Barrister Amuzie Innocent as National Welfare Officer, Chukwudi Ejimotor as National Publicity Secretary, Shuaibu Aminu Shantali as National Deputy Training Officer while the new National Training Officer will be Serah Jumoke Adebisi Odeniran.

The new NRA’s National Deputy Financial Secretary is Mohammed Odihili, Isa Muhammed elected as new National Treasurer, Fidelis Akinyemi Fabidun as new Assistant Secretary  General while Colonel Achikasim Chidi Nicholas elected as Deputy Secretary General.