Suspense and anxiety as 2010 NFF election saga continues

Although tension was really high at Nicon Luxury Hotel Abuja venue of the General Assembly of the football federation, in the end, members met shortly behind closed doors but that was long enough for them to emerge with far reaching decisions. According to the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting which did not […]

Although tension was really high at Nicon Luxury Hotel Abuja venue of the General Assembly of the football federation, in the end, members met shortly behind closed doors but that was long enough for them to emerge with far reaching decisions.

According to the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting which did not last for half an hour, the Assembly expressed its appreciation of the government stand of non-interference in the running of the NFF, particularly in the electoral process. It also affirmed again, all decisions of the Assembly made between 2006 and 2010, particularly the 2008 Assembly decision on the tenure of the State F.As.

Consequently, the Assembly resolved that the elective Assembly of the NFF be re-convened on Wednesday, 25 August and the election into the Executive Committee of the NFF be held on Thursday, 26 without any form of hindrance whatsoever.

Furthermore, the Assembly made it clear that any matter that touches on the Elective Assembly and the consequent election into the NFF EXCO shall not be an issue before any Court of law and whoever violates the directive will be sanctioned as provided in the NFF Statutes.

What is clear is that the Assembly has taken a definite position on the contentious issue of the tenure of State F.A chairmen and new date for the election to be held but what cannot be said for certain is whether those opposed to the exercise would be cowed by the impending hammer from the Assembly.

It is an open secret that one of the Presidential candidates, Chief Segun Odegbami had led a campaign against the electoral process and was able to curry support from other stakeholders who believe the cart is being put before the horse as far as the 2010 NFF election is concerned.

Consequently, an aggrieved party, Taofik Babatunde had gone to an Ilorin High Court to challenging the timing of the election. Although the Court ruled that it lacked jurisdiction to hear the case and transferred it to an Abuja High Court, it ordered the postponement to allow the case to be heard by a competent court. This was followed by more Court injunctions ordering the NFF to shelve electoral activities pending the determination of petitions brought against it by aggrieved parties.

The big question now is what becomes of the pending cases in Court and will the aggrieved parties allow the elections to hold next week without a fight for the justice they are demanding?

Whether the elections will hold on the appointed day or not, the General Assembly has not hidden its resolve to deal decisively with deviant members and other stakeholders who are bent on having their way.

Meanwhile, as the 2010 NFF election saga continues, World football governing body, FIFA yesterday said it has accepted the decision of the Nigeria Football Federation’s Congress to shift its election from yesterday to next week Thursday.

Speaking to reporters shortly after the congress announced the decision to move the elective congress to next week, FIFA’s representative at the Congress Primo Corvaro said FIFA had to accept the decision because it was in line with its rules and regulations.

“We are here to monitor proceedings at the General Assembly and I can say that we are pleased that delegates were able to deal with the major issues raised on the floor, particularly the issue of the date for elective congress.

“We are happy that delegates approved the motion put to them; so for us in FIFA and CAF, the rules have been correctly applied because all 44 delegates approved the motion, so it is accepted”, Corvaro stated.

Also reacting to the decision, a presidential aspirant Dr. Tijani Yusuf commended the decision of the congress, saying it is good the right thing was done.

He insisted that he still has bright chances of clinching the NFF Presidential seat, saying however that his prayers are that the best candidate should emerge to steer the affairs of the nation’s round leather game.

“All the nine presidential candidates have bright chances of winning the election, but my prayer is that the best candidate should emerge, because the whole thing is not personal but the development of Nigerian football”, Dr. Yusuf noted.

Another presidential aspirant Fan Ndubuoke in his reaction, while accepting the verdict of the congress said the extension would allow candidates to reach out to more people and seek their votes.

For now, there is suspense in the air as no one can say for certain what is going to happen next. Between today and next week, there is enough time for the opponents of the 2010 NFF election to strategize and come up with fresh hurdles for the General Assembly of the Nigeria Football Federation which is bent on having the election as scheduled.

However, if the dissenting voices decide to allow the election to hold, the elective congress may have less than nine candidates to pick from as Trustsports gathered that some of the contestants have agreed to step down for others.