Sports Federation Election 2017

Nasarawa deputy gov targets karate job*

Nasarawa State Deputy Governor Silas Ali Agara has declared his intention to contest the  Karate Federation of Nigeria  presidential election. The national sports federation elections are expected to take place in Abuja on Tuesday.

In a statement on Sunday,  Agara said he was out to revive interest in the combat sport in the country through  sponsorships, training and  participation at major competitions.

The deputy governor, who is the Pillar of Sports in the state, called for support  from  voters, saying  he would reposition  KFN  for improved performance if  elected.

Agara, who lamented the declining  fortunes of karate in the country, promised to take the sport to greater heights.

He applauded the  sports ministry for ensuring that a level playing  field is provided for  all aspirants for the federation elections.

Sports Federation Election*

*Basketball*

One of the most contested battles ahead of the June 13 elections involve the big guns of Nigerian basketball. Immediate past president of the Nigeria Basketballv Federation, Tijjani Umar, was given a second chance to contest the elections after the earlier decision stopping presidents who had led the federation boards for two consecutive boards was rescinded.

However, there have been controversies ahead of the polls as top stakeholders including FIBA Zone 3 president Col Sam Ahmedu (retd.) were barred from the venue of the NBBF’s Annual General Congress in Abuja earlier in the year.

Top stakeholders protested the decision of the Umar-led board to impose a constitution drafted without their input and under controversial circumstances behind closed doors at the congress.

Contesting against Umar is Ahmadu Musa-Kida, who has won the hearts of the basketball faithful following his developmental strides at the grassroots level of the game.

But Umar’s group, who kicked against the elections being supervised by the sports ministry, has reportedly concluded plans to hold their election in Kano on Monday, a day before other federations hold theirs.

A close aide to Umar told our correspondent that they are not part of the election that is scheduled to be conducted by the sports ministry, adding that they would go ahead with their own election, as planned by their group.

He said, “Right from day one we made it clear that we are going to conduct our own election backed by our constitution. Everything we are doing is backed by FIBA, so we are going ahead; we are not part of what Dalung is doing.

“It’s (election) likely going to be on Monday (tomorrow). I’m not supposed to talk on the election until it has been conducted.”

*Sports Federation Election*

*Athletics*

The race for the winner of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria crown looks to be potentially explosive with several ex-athletes and non-athletes bidding to become the head of the AFN.

However, immediate past president Solomon Ogba, who has ruled for eight years, has kept athletics followers and even contestants in the dark over his likely return. This, it was learnt, has made some of the contestants, who fear that the emergence of Ogba – who has strong machinery on ground – at the last minute, could derail their own plans for the forthcoming elections.

The contesting athletes are Sydney 2000 gold medallists Enefiok Udo-Obong and Fidelis Gadzama and 1995 All Africa Games gold medallist Rosa Collins.

The non-athletes who are  reportedly contesting are Chairman; Kwara State Athletics Association and vice president in the immediate past board, Tunde Abdulkareem; Ibrahim Gusau; Olukayode Thomas; and Prof. Ken Anugweje.

Commodore Omatseye Nesiama (retd.), who had also indicated interest in contesting, reportedly pulled out of the race for the top post.

Ordinarily, if winning the AFN top job was by sheer achievements as an athlete, Udo-Obong would have been the first pick for the task.  The retired athlete, who promised to focus on youth development if elected, insists he has no backing of a godfather, as he tests his strength against the other opponents.

But there are insinuations that his campaign did not spread across states as expected, which could cost him dearly. Again, coming from the same zone with Collins is a big factor. If none of the duo agrees to withdraw it could spell danger, as they would end up spoiling the votes for themselves.

However, Collins, a former African and national triple jump women record holder is seen as the most popular candidate ahead of the elections. It was learnt that she had painstakingly reached out to all stakeholders as she aims to become the second woman to head the nation’s athletics body.

“Collins is the woman on ground. Politics is a game of numbers and we already know the serious people and the pretenders. Collins is the woman, the rest are pretenders,” Brown Ebewele, new AFN Technical Director, said of Collins’ chances.

“Beyond all these, the new rules of the election which do not permit a presidential or vice presidential candidate to vote for him/herself may have knocked her out. This is like the biggest face saving factor or alibi.

“Otherwise, even if that rule, for instance is waived, I do not see her despite spending so much money to reach delegates to be able to get enough votes to take her there. She should be content of being on the board and start searching for activities that will boost the sport after the election.”

Collins comes from the same zone with Udo-Obong and could split the votes with the ex-quartermiler if both of them insist on not stepping down for the other.

Abdulkareem and Thomas are also from the same state — Kwara – and pundits feel one should have stepped down for the other, given that it might cost both the chance to head the athletics body.

Abdulkareem has the experience, financial strength, popularity amongst stakeholders as well as a burning passion for the sport but Thomas, a sports journalist, is not a pushover as well, as he reportedly has the backing of an ex-sports minister, a top politician from Kwara and “a very close aide to Dalung.”

Prof. Anugweje of the University of Port Harcourt and a member of the last board, as well as Gadzama, Udo-Obong’s teammate at the Sydney Olympics, are also not pushovers in the race for the AFN top job.

Gadzama was a member of the last board but he is a strong critic of Ogba. Many feel his decision to run for the election could go a long way in affecting the chances of Gusau, who also comes from the North.

Gusau had contested the last two elections to head the board of the AFN but if he gets Gadzama out of the way, he could be third time lucky at the June 13 polls.

“Under what platform is Kayode (Thomas) contesting? He’s not a state chairman and he’s not representing any institution, he can be voted for but he can’t vote for himself, so he may leave there very frustrated as someone who contested an election without getting a vote,” Ebewele said of Thomas’ chances.

*Sports Federation Election*

*Basketball*

One of the most contested battles ahead of the June 13 elections involve the big guns of Nigerian basketball. Immediate past president of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Tijjani Umar, was given a second chance to contest the elections after the earlier decision stopping presidents who had led the federation boards for two consecutive boards was rescinded.

However, there have been controversies ahead of the polls as top stakeholders including FIBA Zone 3 president Col Sam Ahmedu (retd.) were barred from the venue of the NBBF’s Annual General Congress in Abuja earlier in the year.

Top stakeholders protested the decision of the Umar-led board to impose a constitution drafted without their input and under controversial circumstances behind closed doors at the congress.

Contesting against Umar is Ahmadu Musa-Kida, who has won the hearts of the basketball faithful following his developmental strides at the grassroots level of the game.

But Umar’s group, who kicked against the elections being supervised by the sports ministry, has reportedly concluded plans to hold their election in Kano on Monday, a day before other federations hold theirs.

A close aide to Umar told our correspondent that they are not part of the election that is scheduled to be conducted by the sports ministry, adding that they would go ahead with their own election, as planned by their group.

He said, “Right from day one we made it clear that we are going to conduct our own election backed by our constitution. Everything we are doing is backed by FIBA, so we are going ahead; we are not part of what Dalung is doing.

“It’s (election) likely going to be on Monday (tomorrow). I’m not supposed to talk on the election until it has been conducted.”

Sports Federation Elections*

*Badminton*

The forthcoming election of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria seems to have split the northern part of the country with the two contestants, Frank Orbih and Prof. Farouk Haruna, laying claim to superior popularity in the region.

Immediate past vice president Orbih and Provost of the Niger State College of Education Haruna are battling for the BFN presidency after outgoing president Justice Danlami Senchi became the President of the Badminton Confederation of Africa.

Haruna, who has previously served as the technical director of the federation, claims that he has more support in the country than Orbih, current Chairman of the Lagos State Badminton Association.

But Orbih, who enjoys the support of the South West, says he is gaining grounds in the North and would emerge as the preferred choice on June 13.

“Prof. Farouk is the beloved choice for us in the north. He has the unrivalled support of 15 of the 19 northern states and we are working to get more states to support the dream,” Muhammad Sodangi of Kaduna State, who spoke on behalf of the Haruna supporters, said.

But Tunji Omidiran from Osun State said apart from the South, where Orbih, enjoys a lot of support, he is also working hard to convince more supporters from the north.

He said, “All the South West are behind Orbih because we have seen what he did in the region we also believe in what he can do as the president of the BFN. The South East too have declared their support for him ahead of his opponent. A lot of work is also going on in the North.”

: *Sports Federation Election*

*Rugby*

In rugby, immediate past President of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation, Edward Fom Pam has Kelechukwu Mbagwu and Hamzat Attah to contest with.

*Wrestling*

The President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation Daniel Igali is favoured to make a return after giving the sport a new face in the last four years.

*Boxing*

Although the sport has not witnessed tremendous growth in the country, immediate past president of the Nigeria Boxing Federation, Kenneth Minimah, is expected to return with little or no opposition at the June 13 polls.

Sports Federation Election*

*Table tennis*

Immediate past president, Enitan Oshodi, is seen as top favourite for the post of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation once again following his giant strides in moving the sport forward in the last four years.

Table tennis has witnessed an astronomical rise which has seen Aruna Quadri being named the Star Player of the Year as well as reaching the quarterfinals at the last Olympics. Several other grassroots projects embarked upon by the federation across the country has also seen Oshodi emerging as the clear front-runner ahead of the election.

However, there were protests after the election of an athletes’ representative and a technical representative into the board of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation.

The athletes’ representatives’ election was won by Kehinde Oladele while national coach, Nosiru Bello emerged as the technical representative.

Six-time Olympian, Funke Oshonaike, claims that she was disenfranchised in the athletes’ representatives election while former national table tennis star, Tunde Obisanya, believes that Bello was not qualified to contest as a technical representative.

Oshonaike, who lamented the exercise, said the General Secretary of the NTTF, Bola Adedeji, was aware of her interest to contest in the election.

Obisanya, who was at the venue of the election, said Bello being an employee of the Ministry of Youth and Sports was not qualified to contest.

*Sports Federation Election*

*Judo*

Former internationals are said to be divided over the choice of the candidate they will support during the Nigeria Judo Federation presidential election.

Sources said some of the supporters of the various aspirants for the federation’s presidential poll are allegedly prepared to cause trouble at the election venue if the outcome of the election does not go their way.

The immediate past president of the federation Timothy Nsirim and the immediate past vice-president of the body Musa Oshodi are the front-runners for the post.

While some of the ex-players are backing Oshodi for the post, others are rooting for Nsirim. Lagos State Judo Association vice-chairman Emmanuel Gbahabo, who is a former international, is also said to be enjoying support from some of the ex-judokas.

Former Technical Director of the federation Aliyu Mohammed, who confirmed the development, ruled out the possibility of Nsirim returning to the top post.

“There was a stakeholders’ meeting which involved most of the ex-judokas and it was agreed that for the sport to move forward, we need to have a president who is a former international,” Mohammed said.