South South FA Chairmen Vow To Resist Any Attempt To Remove Delta State FA Chairman Illegally

South South FA Chairmen Vow To Resist Any Attempt To Remove Delta State FA Chairman Illegally

By Niyi Busari

Five State Football Associations from the Southern part of Nigeria, in a meeting held at Ikot Ekpeme, Akwa Ibom state on Sunday, have resolved to unite against any attempt from external bodies to illegally remove the Delta State Football Association chairman, Edema Fuludu and his vice, Victor Ikpeba from office, BSNSports.com.ng can report.

This is contained in a letter written to the Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF) on Monday that no external force including the federation has the right to unlawfully impose an individual on the Delta State Football Association. The statement added that Article 18 section 2 of the NFF statute is clear on the independency of any state football association and should not be violated.

Relying on article 18 section (2) of the Nigeria Football Federation Statute 2010, which emphasised on the independency of all state football association, the state chairmen warned any external forces whose interest is to impose someone who did not contest in the election as the state chairman to desist from such plans because according to them it can not see the light of the day.

The South South zone football association chairmen which includes; Bayelsa State Football Association, Delta State Football Associatin, Edo State Football Association, Rivers State Football Association and Cross Rivers also warned that the NFF should respect its statute as its role is just to observe the concluded election and not imposing someone on the Delta FA illegally.

The letter sent to the Secretary General of the NFF reads:

The Secretary General,
Nigeria Football Federation,
Glass House,
Abuja,

Sir,
RESOLUTION REACHED AT IKOT EKPENE.
Following the meeting of Football Association Chairmen from the South South zone of Nigeria at Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State on Sunday the 29th day of December 2019, the external interference with the operations of the Delta State Football Association (DFA) was discussed and the zone resolved as follows:

1. Relying on article 18 section (2) of the Nigeria Football Federation Statutes 2010, State Football Associations including that of Delta State are required to act independently on matters concerning their membership including elections of officers.
2. That it is in line with this provision that the elections appeal committee of the Delta State Football Association, serves as the final appellate body on all election petitions/complaints.
3. That in the absence of any complaint to the Delta State Football Association Congress about the election of 13th July 2019 which returned Edema Fuludu and Victor Ikpeba as Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively, the zone accordingly respect and recognise them.
4. The zone also request the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to respect her statutes with regards to her role in affiliates' elections which is that of an observer.
5. Finally, the zone shall resist the on-going attempt by external bodies to unlawfully remove the aforesaid elected officers of the Delta State Football Association.

Signed:

1. Poubeni Oruwari Ogun Bayelsa
2. Ibigoni Benjamin-Akobo Rivers
3. Edema Fuludu Delta
4. Oswald Atuake C/Rivers
5. Hon. Amb. Henry Osaro Asemota Edo