PREVIEW REPORT: Uneasy Calm As NFF Election Holds In Warri

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News, Sports News Monday, September 29th, 2014

By Niyi Adeyi

All is now set for Tuesday elective congress of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) slated for Hotel de Excel Warri, Delta state, South South Nigeria.

The election is expected to be contested by seven aspirants, which include the state (Delta) Chairman of Football administration, Pinnick Amaju Melvin, former NFA General Secretary and member of the executive committee, Taiwo Ogunjobi, Abba Yola of Kano State and the incumbent NFF first Vice President, Chief Mike Umeh.

Other aspirants are Amanze Uchegbulam and Dominic Iorfa, The latter was also a member of the NFF executive committee during the regime of Sani Lulu Abdulahi. Shehu Dikko is also contesting the poll.

However, the exercise has generated rash of criticisms and petitions from different stakeholders. The NFF image maker, Ademola Olajire, issued a press statement last week accusing some of the candidates, failing to express intention to run for the glass house number one position.

The affected in the Olajire’s instance are: Chris Giwa, Obinna Ogba, Johnson Effiong and Segun Odegbami. Odegbami had however last weekend reportedly petitioned the Sports Minister, Tammy Danagogo over the statement credited to the glass house Spokesperson.

In the meantime, the NFF in another release clarified that its 2014 Electoral Appeals Committee has not received appeal from any displeased aspirants, hence the election to hold Tuesday as scheduled.

A total of of 37 candidates are jostling for only 15 available and elective executive positions. Still, Musa Gusau Ibrahim from Zamfara State has already emerged the winner as his co – contestant, Johnson Etim Effiong of the South South zone has declined to indicate interest to contest for Chairman of Chairmen.

It would be recalled the crisis rocking the glass house has resulted to sack twice, of the outgoing NFF President, Aminu Maigari, suspension of Nigeria by FIFA as well as dissolution of Chris Giwa led EXCO which lasted less than a month among others.

Football pundits in and outside the country await impatiently for the outcome of the election, which delay has caused serious setback in the administration of the football house and arguably the recent poor performance of the Super Eagles in their AFCON qualifiers matches.