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Tag: NFF Election

  • NFF election: Court adjourns suit against Sports Minister, Amaju Pinnick

    NFF election: Court adjourns suit against Sports Minister, Amaju Pinnick

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed Feb. 6 for the mention of a suit filed against the Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, and former President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick.

    The matter, which was scheduled for Monday, could not go on, hence, counsel to the parties in the suit agreed on the new date.

    In the motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1376/2021, Harrison Jalla, Chief Victor Rumson Baribote, Austin Popo, and National Association of Nigerian Footballers (NANF) had sued the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Pinnick and the minister 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.

    In the motion dated and field on Sept. 2, the claimants sought an interim order restraining the defendants, his agent, employees, staff, officials or electoral committee from organising or conducting any election into any executive office of the NFF pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.

    In the affidavit in support of the motion deposed to by Fayenengigha Jacob,  a lawyer in the chamber of Ukpong, he said that one of the complaints in the matter was the undemocratic manner in which the NFF was being constituted resulting in depriving the majority of the stakeholders and members of the NFF from having a say or contributing to the development of football in Nigeria.

    According to him, the glory of Nigeria football has nosedived as a result of its undemocratic manner of the leadership of the said body.

    Jacob said while the matter was still pending in court the defendants had gone ahead to announce and purportedly try to organise and conduct an election of the said body on Sept. 30 in Edo.

    He said the substance of the matter would be defeated should the said election slated for September goes ahead without hearing of the pending motions and substantive matter.

    After lawyer to the claimants, Celsus Ukpong, moved the ex-parte motion on Sept. 15, Justice Inyang Ekwo restrained the minister and Mr Pinnick from conducting the NFF executive election scheduled for Sept. 30 in Edo.

    Justice Ekwo had ordered them or any person, acting on their instruction, to maintain a status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction, and fixed Oct. 31 for hearing.

    But the NFF filed an appeal against the court order.

    In the notice of appeal marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1376/2021 dated Sept. 27 and filed Sept. 28, the NFF (the appellant)’s counsel, Patrick Mekako, prayed the court to set aside its earlier order.

    Against this backdrop, the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, on Sept  29, vacated the lower court order restraining the conduct of the NFF election scheduled for Sept. 30 in Edo.

    Mr Ibrahim  Gusau emerged as the new president of the NFF following the conduct of the election on Sept. 30 in Benin City, Edo.

    Gusau, a member of CAF Organising Committee and Chairman, Football Associations chairmen, was said to have garnered 39 votes to succeed Amaju Pinnick.

  • NFF Elections: PFAN Task Force warns against defying court order

    NFF Elections: PFAN Task Force warns against defying court order

    The Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) Task Force says the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should not engage in the act of defying a court order regarding its upcoming elections.

    Harrison Jalla, Chairman of PFAN Taskforce, told newsmen on Friday in Abuja that all those in the NFF defying court orders would face the consequences of their actions.

    Newsmen reports that the NFF Electoral Committee had fixed Sept. 30 for the Federation’s elective congress in Benin and proceeded to release a schedule of events.

    But an order of a Federal High Court Abuja order on Sept. 15 has since put the NFF Elections on hold.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo, ruling on an ex-parte motion, ordered the Youth and Sports Development Minister and the NFF President, or any person acting on their instruction, to maintain the status quo.

    This he said would be pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.

    “The attention of PFAN Task Force has been drawn to publications in the media space on the threat by the NFF and its Electoral Committee to defy the Sept. 15 court order.

    “In the light of this, the PFAN Task Force has taken appropriate steps and has duly informed all relevant agencies of government that there is a threat to cause a breach of the peace by defying the court order,” Jalla said.

    He disclosed that PFAN Task Force was exploring all possibilities within the ambit of the law to ensure those already defying the court order would face the consequences of their actions.

    Jalla said it was worrisome that NFF has continued to violate and breach court orders.

    “This is in spite of President Muhammadu Buhari’s advice that they (NFF) go back as a body to amend the statutes, expand it and accommodate those who have been disenfranchised.

    “As we speak, they are already breaching the orders of court because we see correspondences after the court order, and campaigns for elections are still going on.

    “So, we are taking the appropriate steps to ensure that those who do this don’t go scot-free.”

    He said PFAN Task Force did not need government to do the job of ensuring a stop is put to the act of defying court orders.

    “We have all it takes within the ambit of the law to ensure that the election does not hold,” Jalla stated.

    He noted that the court order to halt the elections was a result of a consistent and deliberate acts of breaching court orders by the NFF since 2021.

    “Every Nigerian is a citizen of the country, and the threat by NFF to defy the court order is unacceptable as nobody is above the law.

    “The NFF has no immunity from the laws of the land, even as FIFA itself has no immunity from the laws of Switzerland.

    “The order we got from court didn’t just start today. We’ve been in court four times, and the two parties have been in court since 2021.

    ”At the last hearing date in June, the court gave us Oct. 31 to come back.

    “We asked for an interlocutory order because we anticipated that an election would hold.

    “They (NFF) said they are not going to do any election because there was no cause for that action and the court agreed with them as there was no electoral committee in place at the time.”

    The PFAN Task Force Chairman added that the judge thereafter stood down the order and gave all involved parties an Oct. 31 date to return to court.

    “In between that period, they set up an electoral committee and started selling nomination forms. There is no court that will accept that anywhere in the world and that was how this fresh order came about.

    “So, when the court order was issued, it was because they were already violating the process in court. This has really nothing to do with stopping the election.

    “If any other group is now telling us that they are not bound by that order of court, then we will take it from there,” he said.

    Also, Victor Baribote, the PFAN spokesman, said it was very clear the Nigeria football governing body was not in order.

    “In the last eight years, there has been nothing to show for all what the Federal Government did in terms of supporting the NFF with massive funding.

    “Also, all the funds FIFA brought in and all the funds that were realised from the private sector cannot be seen in what is on ground.

    “We are all aware of the activities which have been going on within the football circle of late.

    “This is why on June 26 in 2021 PFAN set up a task force in its wisdom, to look at issues on how we can advance our football.

    “We are all aware and are witnesses to the fact we have been recycling old hands in the NFF.

    “On the strength of that, the task force wrote a letter to the NFF last year in line with Article 29, requesting for an ammendment of the Statutes to include every stakeholder.

    “But to cut the long story short, the NFF has blantantly refused to do anything about it,” he claimed.

    The former Nigeria Premier League (NPL) Chairman said the position of PFAN was that election was not important at the moment, and that “fixing” the nation’s football was the top priority.

    He noted that Nigeria had all it takes for its football to become the biggest employer of labour in the country, if the right things were done.

    “It is not about election because the election we are talking about is the same one that will reproduce the same people who brought us to where we are today, and that is unacceptable.

    “So, we are ready to answer any name to make football work again in this country. We are not going to let it go. The President (Muhammadu Buhari) himself has said it is a national asset that should be guarded jealously.

    “So, our position is that we have to sit down as a group, fix the game, include those who are supposed to be part of it and we take it from there.

    “If that is not done, then if it is FIFA or the Federal Government that wants to intervene in this process, it is left for them to come and do what is necessary,” Baribote said.

  • NFF Elections: Akinwunmi, Dikko, Gusau, Kwande, Amadu, Emeruwa, 5 others cleared for presidential race

    NFF Elections: Akinwunmi, Dikko, Gusau, Kwande, Amadu, Emeruwa, 5 others cleared for presidential race

    The NFF Electoral Committee 2022 has cleared a total of 11 persons to contest for the position of NFF President at the Federation’s elections scheduled for Friday, 30th September in Benin City.

    Top on the list are current 1st Vice President, Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi; current 2nd Vice President, Mallam Shehu Dikko; current Chairman of Chairmen, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau; current Member of Board, Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande; immediate past General Secretary, Barr. Musa Amadu and; Head of Safety and Security of the Confederation of African Football, Dr. Christian Emeruwa.

    Also cleared for the exalted post, to be vacated by FIFA Council Member, Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick, are former NFF 1st Vice President, Mazi Amanze Uchegbulam; Chairman of the FCT Football Association, Mallam Adam Mouktar Mohammed; former Nigeria international goalkeeper, Peterside Idah; former Chairman of Kano Pillars FC and respected technocract, Alhaji Abba Abdullahi Yola and; UK-based David-Buhari Doherty.

    Mr. Paul Yusuf from Plateau State was disqualified as a result of invalid nomination; the same axe that swept Mr. Marcellinus Anyanwu from Imo State out of the race.

    Three persons, viz current Member of Board, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu; current Member of Board, Senator Obinna Ogba and; Mr Chinedu Okoye will battle for the post of 1st Vice President.

    Current Member of Board, Alhaji Yusuf Ahmed ‘Fresh’ was the only one who obtained the form, and has been cleared for, the position of Chairman of Chairmen.

    Contesting for seats on the Executive Committee from the South East are: Pastor Emeka Inyama (Abia State); Mr. Chikelue Iloenyosi (Anambra State); Mr Karibe Pascal Ojigwe (Abia State); Mr. Jude Benjamin Obikwelu (Anambra State) and; Sir Emmanuel Ochiagha (Imo State).

    For North Central are Alhaji Mohammed Alkali (Nasarawa State); Rt. Hon. Margaret Icheen (Benue State); Hon. Idris Abdullahi Musa (Kwara State); Mr. Daniel Amokachi (Benue State) and; Mr. Benedict Akwuegbu (Plateau State).

    Current Member of Board, Ms Aisha Falode tops the list of candidates from the South South region, with Chief Kenneth Nwaomucha (Delta State); Mr. Gregory Abang (Cross River State); Mr. Roland Abu Omomoh (Edo State); Barr. Poubeni Ogun (Bayelsa State); Mr Jarret Tenebe (Edo State) and; Rt. Hon. Essien Udofot (Akwa Ibom State) also vying for seats from that zone.

    Current Member of Board, Alhaji Ganiyu Majekodunmi leads the list of contestants for seats from the South West, with Otunba Sunday Dele-Ajayi (Ondo State); Alhaji Olawale Gafar Liameed (Lagos State); Mr. Afolabi Taiwo Olugbenga (Osun State); Mr. Ayodeji Adegbenro (Ondo State) and Barr. Pelumi Jacob Olajengbesi also in the race. Mr. Ayodeji Ogunjobi (Osun State) was disqualified for not providing evidence of tax payment.

    North East candidates are current Member of Board, Alhaji Babagana Kalli (Borno State); Barr. Sajo Mohammed (Adamawa State) and; Mr. Timothy Henman Magaji (Taraba State)

    Current Member of Board, Alhaji Sharif Rabiu Inuwa (Kano State) is the only candidate from the North West

  • NFF Elections: Pinnick preaches peaceful, decent campaigns

    NFF Elections: Pinnick preaches peaceful, decent campaigns

    President of Nigeria Football Federation and FIFA Council Member, Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick has charged frontline candidates for this month’s NFF presidential election to conduct rancour-free, exemplary electioneering campaigns even as they seek the highest football-administration seat in the land.

    On Wednesday, Pinnick met with current NFF 1st Vice President Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi; current 2nd Vice President/LMC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko and; current Chairman of Chairmen, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, who have all obtained forms to contest for the highest seat in Nigeria Football at the NFF Elective General Assembly scheduled for Benin City on 30th September.

    The FIFA Council Member, who also sits on the CAF Executive Committee, told the trio to seek for votes in a most decent and respectable manner, and not invoke the spirit of do-or-die for the race.

    “I have called this meeting to assure you all that I do not have a candidate in this race. Each and everyone of you is my candidate because we worked and walked together in the past eight years, seeking the best for Nigeria Football. I believe that you are all aiming for the position in order to be able to consolidate on the little gains that we were able to make and to preserve or even surpass our legacies.

    “I urge you all to go about the campaigns with utmost decency, avoid any form of acerbic outpourings and remember that we are all belong to the same family that worked for the best interests of Nigeria Football for the past eight years. I wish each and everyone of you the very best with the voting college.”

    Akinwunmi, who is also Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association, is up against Gusau, who is also Chairman of the Zamfara State Football Association and Dikko, as well as a number of other aspirants including former international player Idah Peterside, CAF’s Head of Safety and Security, Christian Emeruwa and respected technocrat and former Chairman of Kano Pillars, Abba Abdullahi Yola.

    “The desire to serve should never be a do-or-die affair. We remain one indivisible family committed to the growth of Nigeria Football. I will still be there to provide support and encouragement to whoever wins. As a Member of FIFA and CAF’s highest bodies, I am still a principal stakeholder in Nigeria Football. Our football deserves the best candidate with the best programmes that will take the game to higher heights.”

    Other interested individuals have until midnight of Thursday, 8th September 2022 to pick up their forms.

  • NFF Presidency: NWFL Chairperson, Aisha Falode joins race

    NFF Presidency: NWFL Chairperson, Aisha Falode joins race

    The Chairperson of the Nigeria Women Football League, Aisha Falode, has declared her intention to join the race for a seat in the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation in the September 30 Elective Congress slated for Benin City, Edo State.

    Falode, the only female appointed Executive Committee member of the present NFF, said at, the event held for her declaration of intention to contest for exco seat on the NFF held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, that she decided throw her hat in the ring in the list of Nigerians seeking elective positions into the executive committee of the NFF because of her desire to effectively build up women’s football both at the league and national team levels.

    “I want to be a real stakeholder in Nigeria Football Federation, with real stake and not limited by the status of an appointee. For me I want to be fully involved in the decision making and implimentation of developmental programmes in Nigerian football.

    “I want to be part of that authority who take initiatives and run those ideas of taking the country’s football to another level. I want to have the opportunity as a member of the NFF Executive Committee that will be enabled to push for a professionally run NFF. It’s better to contest and win a seat on the Executive Committee, and get on board so as to ensure the gains made in women’s football are not watered down.

    “I want to join hands to help build a Secretariat that is modern, and will enable us to keep the Nigeria Women Football League making consistent progress and have a sense of belonging to women’s football.”

    Falode, who is aspiring for NFF exco seat from the Edo State Football Association, noted that, the idea behind her aspiration for the seat is to make sure Nigerian football professional existence is not shut down.

  • Ciroman Yola Picks Up NFF Presidential Election Form

    Ciroman Yola Picks Up NFF Presidential Election Form

    Well-known sports administrator Abba Abdullahi Yola (Ciroman Yola) has officially thrown his hat into the race for the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
    He beat the deadline for the purchase of the form by picking it up for the sum of 400,000 Naira as set by the electoral committee.
    According to yola, his decision to contest for the position is borne out of the need to effect a positive change in the governance of football in Nigeria.

    “The call to get involved and change things informed my decision to contest for the president of the NFF. If one wants to make a change then you have to be involved in the process”, he said shortly after picking up his form”

    He is recognized for leading Kano Pillars to back-to-back league titles when he was chairman of the team, he also supervised the construction of the present head office of the NFF, when he served in the presidential task force under the leadership of Patrick Ekeji.
    His last major involvement in the reformation of Nigerian football was his role in the NFF Reforms Committee. He headed the governance structure subcommittee.