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NIGERIA: Christian Association elects new president to succeed Akinola
[Episcopal News Service] Catholic Archbishop John Onaiyekan of Abuja was elected June 20 to succeed Nigerian Anglican Primate Peter Akinola as president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the country's national ecumenical organization. Onaiyekan reportedly defeated Akinola with 72 votes to 33.All 105 delegates of the National Executive Council (NEC) of CAN participated at the election which, according to Nigeria's Business Day website, witnessed "some tense moments."
"The rules and regulations of the election process of CAN, after some heated arguments, were followed and everybody was satisfied," Onaiyekan told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). "There is a human element, there was no panic really, because we knew we were going to get it done. Everybody accepted the result of the election."
Asked whether arguments were expected in a Christian gathering, Onaiyekan said: "Even the apostles argued. We have to understand the arguments as ways of making your honest point strongly."
According to CAN constitution, Akinola, as the runner-up, will be deemed as CAN's vice-president, according to the Daily Champion newspaper.
CAN's General Assembly is expected to ratify the election at its July 5-6 meeting in Abuja.
In the lead-up to the election, Nigerian media reported that Akinola had allegedly attempted to manipulate the electoral process.
Nigeria's Sunday Sun newspaper reported June 10 that Akinola tried to change the date of the election to favor his candidacy by setting it for a time when Onaiyekan was scheduled to be out of the country.