Musa Kida Faces Heightened Scrutiny Over NBBF Election Delay, Media Intimidation

Musa Kida Faces Heightened Scrutiny Over NBBF Election Delay, Media Intimidation

By Niyi Busari 

Tensions are rising within Nigeria’s basketball community amid allegations that the President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Musa Kida, is seeking to extend his tenure beyond the limits prescribed by the federation’s constitution, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Under the NBBF statutes, an elected president is permitted a maximum of two terms in office without tenure elongation.

 Kida’s second term, following his re-election in Edo State on 31 January 2022, is expected to expire on 31 January 2026. Critics argue that the constitution expressly prohibits tenure elongation and does not allow government or external interference as justification for extending the mandate of an elected board.

Kida first assumed office in 2017 after the exit of Tijani Umar, who had completed two terms as NBBF President. TJ Umar was forced to step aside following actions by the NBBF Congress and the then Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, who cited constitutional provisions barring a third term in office.

With the expiration of Kida’s tenure approaching, basketball stakeholders have raised concerns that, as of January 2026, the federation has yet to announce an election timetable or begin formal preparations for the election of a new president. The absence of a clear succession plan has heightened concerns over transparency, governance, and adherence to constitutional provisions within the NBBF.

The controversy has been further fuelled by allegations of attempts to intimidate the media. Documents and correspondence seen by this publication indicate that legal representatives acting on behalf of Kida issued letters to journalists in early January 2026, warning against further reporting on the alleged tenure elongation and a possible third-term agenda.

In separate letters dated 7 January 2026, the law firm of Sam Erugo & Co., through counsel Victor Emeruwa, wrote to Lagos-based journalist Oni Afolabi, BSN Sports editor Niyi Busari, and Abuja-based Head of Sports at Radio Nigeria, Chinedum Ohanusi. The letters reportedly demanded the removal of published reports, formal retractions, public apologies, and assurances that no further publications would be made on the issue, with legal action threatened in the event of non-compliance.

Stakeholders have maintained that the stance adopted by the Kida-led board contradicts the NBBF constitution, particularly clauses that reject government interference as a basis for extending the tenure of elected officials.

In response to inquiries about the election timeline, the Kida-led NBBF issued a letter dated 4 December 2025 titled “RE: Conduct of Election into the Board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF)”. In the letter, the federation dismissed a correspondence from the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) dated 15 August 2025, describing it as “non-factual” and “misleading,” and stating that it was not based on any official communication from the NBBF, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), or the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.

The federation further stated that the NBBF board elected at the Benin City elective congress was inaugurated on 6 October 2022 for a four-year term, noting that the event was attended by the President of the NOC and received extensive local and international media coverage.

However, critics have dismissed the reliance on government inauguration as justification for the election timeline, arguing that it has no constitutional backing under NBBF statutes. They have called on Kida to immediately initiate arrangements for an NBBF Elective Congress in January 2026, warning that failure to do so could spark public outcry, protests, and demonstrations across major Nigerian cities.