NFF Congress: Meet candidates jostling for Amaju Pinnick’s position

The elective congress of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), scheduled for Friday in Benin City will go ahead after the apex football ruling body obtained a notice of appeal and stay of execution on exparte order granted by Justice I.E Ekwo. The notice on appeal has now set aside and renders the exparte order against […]

The elective congress of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), scheduled for Friday in Benin City will go ahead after the apex football ruling body obtained a notice of appeal and stay of execution on exparte order granted by Justice I.E Ekwo.

The notice on appeal has now set aside and renders the exparte order against the NFF regarding the elective congress null and void.

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Eleven candidates were cleared for the position of president but one of them, Mazi Amanze Uchegbulam, stepped down on Thursday.

Daily Trust takes a look at the contenders for the number one position at the NFF, the biggest sports body in Nigeria, and how they stand.

Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi

Barr. Akinwumi is the highest ranked member of the current NFF board after the President, Amaju Pinnick.

He is the first Vice President of the NFF.

He was appointed Vice President of the body in 2014 and re-elected in 2018.

He is the Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association.

In 2012, he served on the ad-hoc committee for restructuring the Nigeria National League.

He has pioneered several grassroots football programmes in Lagos and beyond.

Mallam Shehu Dikko

He is currently the 2nd Vice President of the NFF.

He is the Chairman of the now ‘defunct’ League Management Company responsible for the management of the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL).

He was previously a consultant for the House of Representatives’ sports committee.

Ahead of the 2022 NFF Elections, Dikko has declared his intention to run for the presidency.

While he was a consultant for the government, he assisted in the drafting of the National Sports Commission bill in the National Assembly.

In 2012, he was appointed secretary of Super Eagles Bonus Row and code of conduct drafting till 2013.

In September 2014, he ran for the office of the NFF President but withdrew from the race before the election was officially held.

He however had some brushes with the anti-corruption agencies when he had his Abuja home sealed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Dikko is seen as one of those popular figures in the Glass House.

Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau

He is the current Chairman of chairmen.

He was previously a member of CAF’s CHAN organising committee and was appointed as a member of CAF’s Youth Organizing Committee saddled with the responsibility of organising AFCON U17, U20, and U23.

The Chairman, Security Committee of the NFF and Zamfara State FA Chairman has promised to bring his wealth of experience as he vowed to prioritise the development of youth football across the nation.

He is also regarded as one of those wielding enormous influence in the country’s football circle.

Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande

He is currently a member of the NFF board.

A former member of the House of Representatives from Bassa/Jos North Federal constituency in Plateau State, Kwande is a frontrunner to take over as the NFF president.

The former chairman of Mighty Jet and the vice chairman of Plateau FA, who promised to run an open government.

He said equality, sustainable development for humanity, and quality welfare for players and staff are his watchwords.

Hon. Kwande has held several positions in the country’s football circle and has never been indicted for any form of corruption or misappropriation.

He has held the position of Match Commissioner Appointment Committee Chairman; Chairman, and Finance Committee of the NFF among others.

Barr. Musa Amadu

He is the immediate past general secretary of the NFF.

He has been in football administration since 2007 when he became the Deputy General Secretary of the NFF.

He worked under a General Secretary that taught him the ropes, Dr Bolaji Ojo-Oba.

In 2010, he became the General Secretary and held that position until March 2015 and within that period, he was able to run the NFF secretariat effectively.
Nigeria won 13 continental trophies during his time as the NFF scribe.

He resigned his position after refusing to approve the transfer of $3.6 million without proper documentation.

Dr Christian Emeruwa

He is the Head of Safety and Security of the Confederation of African Football, CAF.

Emeruwa, who is also a FIFA security officer, boasts of a proven track record in safety and security matters at match venues across the globe.

Before his appointment, the doctorate degree holder in health education and human kinetics had served as a special assistant to three successive NFF’s general secretaries.

He has coordinated safety and security issues at a number of matches and competitions for CAF and the world’s football governing body, FIFA.

Emeruwa has been speaking about how he will digitise the administrative processes at the NFF if elected. He also has a clear plan on how to improve the business aspect of football in Nigeria.

Many people believe he will do a good job if given the opportunity.

However, some believe that he is not part of the inner circle of the football administration in the country which will constitute an obstacle to his ambition.

Mallam Adam Mouktar Mohammed

He is the current Chairman of the FCT Football Association.

He emerged as FCT FA chairman in 2019 after serving as the second Vice Chairman.

The Accounting and Economics graduate from Middlesex University, United Kingdom, is the proprietor of FC Hearts, which has produced several players for various categories of Nigerian national teams.

He has variously been recognised for his trail-blazing works both as a successful businessman and FCT football boss and under him, the FCT football league has attracted as many as 68 clubs.

The FCT FA under Mouktar has impacted various aspects of the game in the capital territory, from human capital development of players, coaches, referees, infrastructure, and competitions to international events and collaborations.

Peterside Idah
He is a former Nigeria international goalkeeper.

He is also a sports analyst and commentator with Super Sports and Pastor at Christ Ambassadors Church based in Kempton Park, Johannesburg.

In 2004, he bailed the Super Falcons out of the messy financial situation it was in by paying a whopping $10,000 US Dollars as the cost of their hotel bill in South Africa.

To date, the money has not been refunded to him by the NFF.

 

Alhaji Abba Abdullahi Yola

He is a former Chairman of Kano Pillars FC and a respected technocrat.

A thorough-bred federal civil servant with a high Intelligent Quotient and Emotional Quotient.

As Kano Pillars chairman, he opened a new door of sponsorship for the club with deals with telecommunication giant Globacom worth millions of Naira as well as signing a Memorandum of Understanding for sponsorship for Kano Pillars in services, cash and kind.

This gave rise to Gsports to bring in Kappa to kit the club, a deal which ran into millions of Naira.

David-Buhari Doherty

David Buhari-Doherty is the CEO of Pathway Sports and President of Team Nigeria UK (TNUK)

He has a degree in Business Management from the University of Greenwich in the UK.

He is an ex-professional football player with clubs in Nigeria and Europe, a licensed coach, a football pundit, and a community and youth leader.

David has received several awards for his dedication and contribution to youth development and empowerment and in June 2014, he was named and awarded as one of the 100 most outstanding Nigerians in the UK from 1914 – 2014, at the Nigerian Centenary Awards UK Celebration.

David is also passionate about grassroots development, empowerment and mentoring young people.