June 12 Election Duly Conducted - Taraba FA Replies NFF - Latest Sports in Nigeria

June 12 Election Duly Conducted - Taraba FA Replies NFF

By Niyi Busari

Taraba State Football Association insisted that the June 12 FA election conducted at Bali Local Government was duly administered in line with the laid down electoral guidelines, BSNSports.com.ng can report.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had in a letter dated 26th September 2019, with Ref No. NFF/GEN/85/1/42 written to Taraba State Football Association called the Association to a meeting to bring sanity and end the crisis of factional chairmen in state FA.

In a response letter to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) from the Taraba state FA, signed by Suleiman Adamu, Chairman of Chairmen Taraba Football Association who doubles as Chairman Jalingo Football Council and two others, stated clearly that the ongoing crisis in state FA would not have arose had the Federation's election observer, Alhaji Babagana Kalli was not hijacked by Mr Timothy Magaji which led to his (Babagana) absence at the venue of the election in Bali Local Government

It was reported that Babagana went to an undisclosed venue to oversee an election unknown to the football stakeholders in the state, the purported election was presented to the NFF in Abuja by the observer .

Proving further, that the election in Bali followed the procedures as entrenched in relevant laws for the elections, the state FA stated that the Bali Local Government is the venue announced to all well meaning people of Taraba state ahead of the election and was conducted in the presence of all relevant stakeholders in Football in the state.

The state FA added that the representative of the Ministry of Youth and Sports was at the venue as election observer, the representative of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Director of State Service, State Commandant of Security and Civil Defence of Bali Local Government, Chairman, Referee Council, Mr Umar Idris, Chairman Coaches Council, Hero Bitrus, Representative of Players Union, Diase Dominic were all present to perform their legal duties.

The state FA also claimed that all efforts to make sure that Alhaji Babagana Kalli (NFF Election observer) was present at the venue on the election day proved abortive as his phone was switched off.

According to the letter, it was a surprise to the FA to hear that he submitted result of election that was never duly conducted to the federation.

The FA challenged Babagana Kalli to explain to the world where he went and held elections on the said date. And should produce a Police report from Bali Local Government also produce the attendance list of those that voted in the election he claim to oversee in Taraba.

Relying on Article 18, Section (2) of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) statute, which states that, state Football Association are required to act independently on matters concerning their membership including elections of officials, the state FA believed that the crisis is an internal issue and should be solved as such.

The Taraba State FA however, urged the NFF to use its good office to to tread the path of justice and should not impose Mr Timothy Magaji who according to the FA has lost control and cannot function in Taraba state on the football loving and stakeholders of the state .

The letter affirmed that the June 12 election in Bali Local Government produces Mr Sanusi Mohammed, a seasoned football administrator, philanthropist and grassroots mobilizer as the Chairman Taraba state Football Association.