The Yoruba National Community in Italy electoral committee (NEC) body has successfully cleared three candidates for eligible participations in the forthcoming national executive elections.The process was inline with the body electoral bye-laws and road map as earlier announced before the application process began.  

It will be recalled that the former (6 men) national executive officers lead by Prince Kolawole Oladele, as the national President and Mr. Kehinde Eniola, (vice-president) officially announced the disbandment of the entire executive members and all appointed committees working for the administration on the 20th of September 2023, after officially completing their constitutional two year tenured in offices as promised during their electoral campaigns in 2021. leaving no vacuumed in the executives offices with the immediate appointment of a new five men Caretaker committees to work in hand-to hand with the national electoral committee body.  

The application form for the 2023/2024 national executive officers election was officially declared opened by the (NEC) committee on the 24th of October, 2023 and lasted for a months until 24th, of November which it was officially closed for submission. Following the committee roadmap on the electoral process, the screening process was programmed from 27, November to 4th of December 2023.

The official screening process was conducted on Sunday, 3rd December 2023, as candidates who showed interest for the national executive offices were invited for their screening (interview) exercised. Only three candidates showed interest in the executive positions based on the collection of the (2023/2024) application form, among which includes two returning officers. see names below: 

1. Mr Kolawole Olade (former president) from Padova 

2. Mr Raheem Saubana Ayinla (former cultural officer) from Treviso 

3. Mr Ayodeji Festus Abolaji Adedayo from Mantova contesting for the office of General secreatary

Screening Exercise Update.

The national electoral committee screening process was officiated by the chairman, Mr Opafola Olumuyiwa Adetunji, while Mr Olamilekan Abidemi Legacy officially lead the screening (rigorous) interview question and answer process, supported by the entire committee members.

The entire process was judge on the below percentages which every members of the committee's were expected to give their point of views on each candidates performances in order to determine their percentages as merited by their responses:

Section A.

• Attendance : 10%
• Documents submissions : 20%
• Payments (Application & Regional debts): 20%
• Question & Answer : 30%
• Capacity and Attitudes: 20

Total performance = 100

After a successful screening exercise and (vote) judgement from each members presented online as at the time of the verdict; below are the result from the three available officers based on their individual observations:

Mr Ayo Orimogunje (Treasurer) | Mr Opafola Olumuyiwa | Mr Obaseesin Seun Ezekiel

a. Mr Kolawole              85        |        80                        |                    83

b. Mr Festus Abolaji       95                 90                                              100

C. Mr. Raheem Saubana. 60                 55                                               50

NB:According to the total percentages votes scores above, each candidate were judge based on the section a table. One candidate who came late was automatically deducted 5% out of 10%, while candidates whose document were not submitted in full were also deducted some percentage. Candidate who failed to meet the application deadline to pay their applications fee or regional 50% mandatory debts were deducted point and percentages for failure to comply with the official stipulated time.

Capacity and attitude. Every candidate were in interviewed and also advised on the level of their capacity's and their moral attitudes in screening and past leadership performances. The percentage scores above all captured every areas of the section A table data.

Following the next laid down road map is the official presentation’s of the candidates to the general assembly, meanwhile, the electoral committee are expected to give their reports to the caretaker committee’s on the electoral process outcome, particularly concerning the way out to resolve the issue of low turnout of candidates and what to do next before January 20th, 2024.

Below are the names of the electoral committee crew members.

• Opafola Olumuyiwa Adetunji (chairman) 
• Ayodeji Orimogunje (treasurer)
• Gbenga Olagbaju (secretary/ IT)
• Obaseesin Seun Ezekiel (pro)
• Samuel Oludada (provost)
• Abidemi Olamilekan (screening officer)