Basketball Vanguard demands transparent election into NBBF board

The Nigerian Basketball Vanguard, a group of major basketball stakeholders in the country, has demanded a transparent election into the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF). The basketball community in Nigeria has been in crisis since after its 2017 election where two factions of executive members emerged. On Tuesday, the Ministry of Youth and […]

The Nigerian Basketball Vanguard, a group of major basketball stakeholders in the country, has demanded a transparent election into the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF).

The basketball community in Nigeria has been in crisis since after its 2017 election where two factions of executive members emerged.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development released a timetable for elections into the board of six federations, including the NBBF, that have their constitutions ratified by their international sports bodies and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).

However, the Nigeria Basketball Vanguard said it had sent a petition to the world basketball governing body, International Basketball Federation  (FIBA), over the constitution of the NBBF.

Tijani Umar, who spoke on behalf of the group, said major stakeholders of the game in the country had no input in the document which would now guide the conduct of the election.

“We need to have a transparent election conducted in 2021.

“We need open elections and we are going to demand transparency and accountability from sports authorities, including the Nigeria Olympic Committee by way of consultation, negotiation, persuasion and if need be, by using all legitimate means to ensure that there is fair play, there is equity, inclusion, transparency and accountability in the conduct of NBBF affairs,” he said.