By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The leadership crisis in the Nigeria Judo Federation (NJF) has deepened, with the board led by Dr. Musa Oshodi rejecting reports of its dissolution and insisting that it remains the legitimate governing body of the federation.
In a statement issued on Friday, October 9, 2026, the federation described reports that the National Sports Commission (NSC) had dissolved its board and approved a caretaker committee as fake news.
The Oshodi-led board accused Mrs. Ngozi Amayo and her associates of spreading the reports, alleging that they were attempting to take control of the federation.
The federation further claimed that Amayo had previously been dismissed by its board over alleged financial misappropriation and attempts to run the organization as her personal property.
Insisting that neither the International Judo Federation (IJF) nor the NSC had dissolved its board, the NJF maintained that Oshodi’s leadership remained in charge.
The federation cited correspondence from the IJF dated September 18, 2026, which it said approved its draft amended constitution and directed it to convene a General Assembly to ratify the document ahead of fresh elections scheduled for November.
The NJF announced that its General Assembly would hold from October 12 to 14, with the meeting scheduled for Tuesday, October 13. It also disclosed that the venue had been moved from Abuja to Ibadan, Oyo State.
According to the federation, the meeting will consider the revised constitution, determine the composition of the electoral committee and fix the date for the forthcoming elections.
Defending its position, the board argued that dissolving an elected federation board and installing a caretaker committee would violate provisions of the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Charter, the IJF Statutes and the NJF Constitution.
It also cited Section 16(2) of the NSC Establishment Act 2023, arguing that presidential approval would be required before the commission could dissolve a federation’s board
The federation maintained that no such approval had been sought or obtained, insisting that any purported dissolution would be null and void.
The latest development has added to the uncertainty surrounding the administration of Nigerian judo, with the federation urging athletes, state associations and other stakeholders to remain calm as it continues to engage with the IJF.
The planned November elections are expected to be a defining moment for the federation, as the dispute over its leadership continues.
