Road Clear For NFF Elections As Bayelsa High Court Exparte Order Suspended

Road Clear For NFF Elections As Bayelsa High Court Exparte Order Suspended

By Niyi Busari

The ex-parte order stopping the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) from holding Congress has been temporarily suspended ahead of the federation elections,

A board member of Nembe City, Seigha Obiene, had in 2021 approached the court saying that ineligible voters voted in the 2014 and 2018 NFF elections and asked the court to declare Amaju Pinnick led board illegal. He argued that some of the voters in the two elections, League Management Company (LMC) Chairman, Shehu Dikko, Chairman Nigeria Women Football League, Aisha Falode, NNL Chairman and NLO Chairman who voted in the two elections are occupying their respective positions on the NFF Board against the statute, hence, the elections be declared null and void.

According to the federation statute, those occupying such positions must be elected by members. Sadly, the Federation appointed them against its Constitution.

The Federal High Court in Bayelsa ordered that the Federation should not hold their Congress until the matter is settled. The NFF had said the elections may not hold because doing so amount to contempt of court.

As the September elections approaches, 28 Concerned State Football Association chairmen approached the applicants and appealed that the matter be vacated to pave way for the elections.

However, on June 24, 2022 the ex-parte order was vacated after Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare intervention. With this, the Nigeria Football Federation is expected to without waste of time commence processes ahead of the Elective Congress coming up in September, 2022.