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Tag: NFF Presidency

  • 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: Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi officially joins race

    NFF Presidency: Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi officially joins race

    Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) top shot, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi has officially declared interest in presiding over the affairs of the football body in the country.

    Barrister Akinwunmi, in his declaration speech, said, football was dear to his heart and would love to pilot footballing affairs in the country.

    “I guarantee you that as much as I love football, as much as I love my friends, one thing that is paramount in my mind is football. As much as I love and cherish the camaraderie that we share that is football, and that must come first. Nigeria football can change, only if we put football first.”

    He continued, “so redirecting the focus of Nigerian football is paramount if we must achieve the desired goal.”

    Also speaking at the event, Sokoto State FA Chairman, Mallam Danladi Bako said Akinwunmi is the right man to succeed Amaju Pinnick, and take Nigeria football to greater heights with a holistic approach and professional execution.

    “Seyi is one man we respect so much,” he continued. “That is why the who is who in Nigerian football came to grace his declaration. Those who decide our fate in Nigerian football, the congressmen are present here. They have a choice to make whenever the time comes as to who they endorse but by me being present here, it has given support to Seyi.”

    The electoral committee will release all the names of candidates for the NFF’s presidency position.

    The tenure of Amaju Pinnick has elapsed and he has said he wouldn’t seek re-election to the position.

    Seyi Akinwunmi is the first Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation. He was appointed Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation in 2014 and re-elected in 2018. He is Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association.