By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The controversy surrounding the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) elections has deepened, with three presidential aspirants calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and suspend the polls over alleged irregularities in the electoral process.
Olumide Oyedeji, Igoche Mark and Ejike Ugboaja, in a petition dated October 12, urged the Federal Government to direct the National Sports Commission (NSC) to suspend the elections and investigate their complaints before the exercise proceeds.
The aspirants accused outgoing NBBF President Ahmadu Musa Kida of allegedly manipulating the composition of the incoming board in favour of Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, who is also seeking the federation’s presidency.
The petition, which was also copied to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House of Representatives Speaker Abbas Tajudeen and Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, raised concerns over alleged changes to state representation ahead of the Extraordinary and Elective Congresses.
The candidates claimed that more than 15 legitimate state representatives had been removed and replaced with individuals they considered unqualified, alleging that the changes were intended to influence voting outcomes.
States mentioned in the petition include Zamfara, Kaduna, Gombe, Benue, Kwara, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Niger, Edo and Taraba.
They further alleged that financial inducements and political influence, including the involvement of some state governors, were used to facilitate the changes, warning that such actions could undermine the credibility of the elections and violate the NBBF Constitution.
The aspirants also questioned the Electoral Committee’s handling of candidates’ applications, alleging that some contestants had been excluded from positions they sought to contest.
Beyond the alleged irregularities, the petitioners raised concerns about Abdullahi’s eligibility to lead the federation while serving as head of a Federal Government agency.
Citing the Nigeria Public Service Rules, they argued that restrictions on outside engagements by full-time public servants warranted scrutiny of his eligibility, given the demands and responsibilities associated with the NBBF presidency.
The three aspirants maintained that the NSC should investigate the allegations before the elections proceed, warning that allowing the exercise to continue without addressing the complaints could undermine confidence in the outcome and deepen divisions within Nigerian basketball.
The petition was signed by Mark, who is also contesting for the North Central representative position; Oyedeji, who is seeking the South West representative seat alongside the presidency; and Ugboaja, who is also running for the South East representative position.
They urged the Federal Government to ensure that the grievances were thoroughly investigated and that the elections were conducted in accordance with the federation’s governing rules.
The NSC’s response to the appeal, alongside that of the NBBF leadership and Electoral Committee, is expected to be significant in determining the next steps in the disputed electoral process.
