The 2022 Elective Congress of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will hold today in Benin City, Edo State amid tight security, despite threats by a stakeholder group to cause chaos.
It would be recalled that two weeks ago, a group under the name Nigeria Football Stakeholders had warned that many lives will be lost if the NFF went ahead with the elective congress.
The group in a letter dated 7th August, 2022 and addressed to the minister of youth and sports development Sunday Dare, accused the outgoing NFF president Amaju Pinnick, of corruption and highhandedness.
“Embezzlement and fraud committed by the Amaju Pinnick led board with various cases pending at the ICPC and EFCC…blatant refusal to adjust the statute to accommodate all intending stakeholders to come to the board,” the letter read in part.
It went on to demand a suspension of the Elective Congress until such a time all reforms are carried out, warning that refusal to meet this demand will be met with very serious consequences.
“We will not hesitate to bomb and bring down the venue of the elections and blood will flow. Your agreement to the cancellation will save many lives,” the group threatened.
Another group referred to as the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) also filed a Suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja over unequal representation and voting rights, and the presiding Judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered that the elections be put on hold and that parties should maintain the status quo until further proceedings o October 31.
However, a court of appeal sitting in Abuja on Thursday vacated the order restraining the conduct of the election and the NFF confirmed via a press release that its 78th Annual General Assembly and elections of a new Executive Committee to steer the affairs of the nation’s supreme football ruling body for the next four years, would take place today Friday.
Among the 10 persons jostling to become the 44th NFF president are the current vice presidents, Seyi Akinwunmi (1st VP) and Shehu Dikko (2nd VP), as well as former Executive Committee Member and Chairman of Chairmen, Ibrahim Musa Gusau and former Executive Committee Member, Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande.
Contesting for seats on the Executive Committee from the South-East are Emeka Inyama (Abia State); Chikelue Iloenyosi (Anambra State); Karibe Pascal Ojigwe (Abia State); Jude Benjamin Obikwelu (Anambra State) and; Emmanuel Ochiagha (Imo State).
For North-central are Mohammed Alkali (Nasarawa State); Margaret Icheen (Benue State); Idris Abdullahi Musa (Kwara State); Daniel Amokachi (Benue State) and Benedict Akwuegbu (Plateau State).
Current board member Aisha Falode tops the list of candidates from the South-south region, with Kenneth Nwaomucha (Delta State); Gregory Abang (Cross River State); Roland Abu Omomoh (Edo State); Poubeni Ogun (Bayelsa State); Jarret Tenebe (Edo State) and Essien Udofot (Akwa Ibom State) also vying for seats from that zone.
Another current board member, Ganiyu Majekodunmi, leads the list of contestants for seats from the South-west, with Sunday Dele-Ajayi (Ondo State); Ayodeji Ogunjobi (Osun State); Olawale Gafar Liameed (Lagos State); Afolabi Taiwo Olugbenga (Osun State); Ayodeji Adegbenro (Ondo State) and Pelumi Jacob Olajengbesi (Osun State) is also in the race.
Vying for the North-east seat are current board member Babagana Kalli (Borno State); Sajo Mohammed (Adamawa State), and Timothy Henman Magaji (Taraba State), while current board member Sharif Rabiu Inuwa (Kano State) is the only candidate from the North-west.
