It was a moment of glitz and glamour, mixed with emotion, as Pharm. Adewale Oladigbolu bowed out of office. Pharm. Ambrose Igwekanma Ezeh emerged as the winner of the tensely contested ACPN National Chairmanship Election.
The election, held on Friday, 26 July 2024, during the association’s Annual General Meeting at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, saw Ezeh, managing director of Rosemus Pharmacy, Lagos, score 312 votes. He beat his opponents, Pharm. Duke Otite, who received 273 votes, and Pharm. Bridget Otote, who garnered 196 votes.
According to the results announced by the Chairman of the ACPN Electoral Committee, Pharm. Shina Olayiwola from Kwara State, a total of 787 delegates were accredited and participated in the election. Ezeh, a community pharmacist in Lagos, edged out his opponents: Otite, the former chairman of ACPN, Edo State, and Otote, the immediate past national vice-chairman. Ezeh was declared the winner and presented with the certificate of office, having garnered the highest number of votes.
The election for the office of vice-president was also keenly contested, with Pharm. Adegboyega Oguntoye from Oyo State and Pharm. Jonah Okotie from Lagos locking horns. Oguntoye, a former chairman of PSN, Oyo State, scored 482 votes, defeating Okotie, a former secretary of Lagos ACPN, who scored 297.
The electoral committee announced that the remaining seven positions—national secretary, national assistant secretary, national treasurer, national financial secretary, national internal auditor, and national editor-in-chief—were contested unopposed. The following were elected: Pharm. (Mrs) Omokhafe Mary Ashore as secretary, Samuel Iyen as assistant national secretary, Babatunde Samuel as treasurer, Obiageri Ikwu as financial secretary, Luke Bokinyan as internal auditor, Hajiya Samira as editor-in-chief, Hanniel Chukwudi as national publicity secretary, and Pharm. Adewale Oladigbolu as IPNC.
In his acceptance speech, the newly elected National Chairman of ACPN, Ezeh, thanked God for granting him success in the election. He appealed to all members of the association to forget pre-election differences and come together as one, noting that there was no victor nor loser in the election as all contestants aimed for the betterment of the association.
“I am deeply honoured and humbled to stand before you today as the newly elected national chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria. This moment is a testament to the trust and confidence you have placed in me, and I pledge to serve with unwavering dedication and integrity. Our profession is at a critical juncture, facing both challenges and opportunities.
“Today, we will advocate for policies that enhance our practice, ensure the highest standard of care for our patients, and elevate the role of community pharmacies in Nigeria’s healthcare system. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to my predecessors for their invaluable contributions and to all of you for your support. Let us move forward united, innovative, and committed to excellence.”
He continued, “To my co-contestants, I extend my heartfelt appreciation for demonstrating exceptional sportsmanship throughout the election process. Your commitment, integrity, and professionalism have been truly inspiring. This journey has been a testament to our shared dedication to advancing the pharmacy profession and serving our communities.
“Regardless of the outcome, I am confident that our collective efforts will continue to drive positive change within our association. Thank you for your spirit of fair competition. It has been an honour to stand alongside such esteemed colleagues.”
The highlight of the event was the presentation of certificates and the swearing-in of the new executive, conducted by Pharm. Bunmi Ogundiran, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Oyo State, assisted by Pharm. Oladigbolu, the immediate past national chairman.
