By Ado Salisu
This is as the stakeholders comprising of Congress and immediate past board members of NBBF have written to the National Sports Commission (NSC) and FIBA to step in and clear pathways for fresh conduct of election ro usher in new leadership.
Led by Col. Samuel Ahmedu (Rtd), an international representative, the various Basketball administrators and technical doyens, the concerned persons expressed displeasure, at a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, over claims by former NBBF President Musa Kida that his tenure subsist till October.
Col. Ahmadu said the briefing was convened to address what he described as widespread misinformation surrounding the federation’s leadership status.
“We decided to hold this press briefing because there is so much information out there—some factual and some concocted,” he said. “It is important to put things in proper perspective. This is not a campaign for anyone but an effort by members of the outgoing board to set the record straight.”
According to him, the NBBF constitution stipulates that the board’s tenure begins immediately after members are sworn in following an elective congress. He argued that the tenure commenced after the January 31, 2022 election in Edo State and therefore expired on January 31, 2026.
He maintained that there is no constitutional provision requiring further inauguration by the Ministry of Sports to validate the start of tenure. “Inauguration does not override the Constitution as the determinant of tenure commencement,” he said.
Ahmadu added that the minutes and communiqué of the 2022 elective congress were duly sent to FIBA and the Ministry of Sports, describing them as “incontrovertible.” He noted that FIBA formally congratulated the board in February 2022 and that Nigeria’s women’s national team, D’Tigress, competed internationally shortly thereafter under the leadership of the board elected in Edo.
The board members also raised concerns about internal governance since 2022. Ahmadu alleged that the president had not convened congress meetings as required.
Citing provisions of the NBBF constitution, he said Congress is the supreme authority of the federation and must be convened at least four times a year. He claimed that no congress meetings had been called since 2022 and that the last board meeting was held in 2024.
Among those present at the briefing were Prof. Adeyanju (NAWIS representative); Olumide Bamiduro (representing NAPHERD SD, after replacing Yakashai, who resigned to join the Boxing Federation); Adamu Deshi as North Central Rep; Technical Representative Scot Nnaji; and South-West Representative Olumide Oyedeji and Suraj Yusuf who represented North East at the just expired board.
