Congress Requests FIBA Approval For NSC, NOC To Conduct NBBF Elections

Congress Requests FIBA Approval For NSC, NOC To Conduct NBBF Elections

By Niyi Busari 

More than two-thirds of members of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Congress have formally petitioned the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), requesting authorization for the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) to convene an Extraordinary Congress of the federation, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

In a letter signed by 33 congressmen, dated 1 February 2026 and addressed to the Secretary-General of FIBA, the Congress members alleged constitutional breaches and the illegal extension of tenure by the outgoing NBBF Board led by its president, Engineer Musa Kida.

The petition follows the expiration of the Kida-led board’s two terms -four-year tenure- on 31 January 2026, having been elected on 31 January 2022. According to the signatories, the board’s tenure elapsed in line with Articles 21.8 and 23.10 of the NBBF Constitution, rendering it without legal or moral authority to continue in office.

The letter, titled “Breach of Constitution and Illegal Extension of Tenure by the Board of the NBBF,” accused the outgone board of failing to convene a single Congress or Annual General Meeting between 2022 and 2026, in violation of Article 20.2, which mandates the federation to hold at least one Congress annually, with the fourth being an elective congress.

The petitioners further alleged that the NBBF president failed to convene board meetings for over a year, contrary to Article 21.9, which requires the board to meet at least four times annually. They noted that the last board meeting reportedly took place in late 2024.

According to the letter, the failure to convene board meetings and congresses resulted in a breakdown of communication and stagnation of basketball activities nationwide. The Congress members claimed the actions were deliberate, accusing the outgoing president of acting as a sole administrator in an attempt to perpetuate himself in office beyond the constitutionally approved tenure.

The letter also referenced a stakeholders’ meeting held on 9 January 2026, attended by representatives of the NSC, NOC, board members, state association chairmen, and club owners. At the meeting, representatives of the outgone president reportedly attempted to justify a unilateral extension of the board’s tenure to October 2026, citing the board’s inauguration by the former Minister of Sports in October 2022.

This justification, the petitioners stated, was unanimously rejected by stakeholders, including a majority of board members, on the grounds that the NBBF Constitution clearly stipulates that tenure begins from the date of election and oath-taking, which occurred on 31 January 2022. They added that documentary evidence showed the board commenced operations immediately after the election and was not prevented from functioning before the October inauguration.

To support their claims, the petitioners referenced three documents:

1. A letter from the NOC to the NSC affirming that the NBBF elective congress should be held in January 2026.

2. A letter dated 4 December 2025 from the outgoing NBBF president to the NSC, acknowledging receipt of correspondence dated 24 October 2025 and outlining his reasons for extending the board’s tenure.

3. A letter dated 12 December 2025 from the Chairman of the Taraba State Basketball Association, drawing attention to the constitutional provisions governing board tenure.

The Congress members further noted that at the 9 January 2026 stakeholders’ meeting, it was agreed that the outgoing president would convene a board meeting within five days and initiate the process for an elective congress within 10 days, with elections to be concluded on or before 31 March 2026. They claimed that no action was taken, despite the expiration of the agreed timeline.

Citing Article 35 of the NBBF Constitution, which recognizes FIBA as the supreme authority for basketball worldwide, the petitioners urged FIBA to intervene to prevent what they described as a breakdown of constitutional order within Nigerian basketball.

They specifically requested that FIBA:

Declare that the outgone NBBF president and board members have exceeded their tenure and should vacate office immediately; and Authorize the NSC and NOC to conduct elections into a new NBBF board for the 2026–2030 term, using the 2019 NBBF Constitution, on or before 31 March 2026.

The petitioners said this would ensure continuity and restore constitutional governance to Nigerian basketball.