Nigeria Elects New NOC President

(ATR)(ATR) After a second try, a new president is elected for the Nigerian Olympic Committee. He's pledging to make peace after a controversial election.

For the second time in two weeks, Sani Ndanusa, an ex-sports minister, won the vote. He defeated incumbent Habu Gumel Sep.19 in a vote the IOC refused to recognize.

In a second ballot Sep. 23, Ndanusa was elected unopposed after Gumel and another candidate withdrew from the race.

The second vote was held under the watch of Algerian NOC official Mustapha Berraf, appointed as an observer by the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa. News reports say he is satisfied with the election process.

Gumel, who became an IOC member last October, proclaimed that his withdrawal was for the good of Nigerian sport.

"We have resolved all our issues. We going to work together hand in hand," said Gumel at the meeting.

Ndanusa said he was ready to heal rifts opened in the election.

"My regime will be all-embracing. What has happened today shows that there were no winners and no losers. The winner was Nigerian sports," he said.

News reports from Lagos say the meeting at the National Stadium was at time raucous asshouting erupted over how the vote would be held. Cheering broke out when Gumel announced his withdrawal, said in one report to be the result of a "backroom deal".

Kalashnikov-carrying policemen were said to be on hand to help keep order at the vote.

Gumel's status as an IOC member is not expected to be affected by his ouster as NOC President, a post he had held since 2001.

Written by Ed Hula.