Suspend All Election Activities In Anambra FA With Immediate Effect, Ministry of Sports Tells NFF, Others

  Suspend All Election Activities In Anambra FA With Immediate Effect, Ministry of Sports Tells NFF, Others By Niyi Busari The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has told the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF to suspend all election activities relating to Anambra Football Association with immediate effect, BSNSports.com.ng reports. This is contained in a letter dated 5th October, 2020 and signed by the Permanent Secretary, Gabriel Aduda stating that the NFF should suspend all planned election activities in Anambra until the outcome of the ministry's investigation aimed at unraveling circumstances surrounding the August 2nd Elections. The one-page letter in paragraph 4 reads: "By this development, it is imperative that the Anambra State Football Association and other parties to put on hold all activities relating to the Football election in the state immediately, pending the outcome of this meeting." Recall that the NFF had conceded that it is against FIFA, CAF and NFF statutes to set up a Caretaker Committee. This, the federation clearly stated in a letter with Ref number: NFF/GEN/385/1/14 written to Katsina Football Association dated 17th April, 2020 which reads in part; "That FIFA, CAF, NFF and Katsina State FA statutes do not contemplate or provide for Caretaker Committee." Ironically, the same NFF turned around in 2020 to abrogate power they do not have and set up a Caretaker Committee in Anambra state FA. Article 16 sub 2 of the NFF statute which sees State Elections as an Internal matter further buttressed the fact that the federation lacked the power to interfere in Anambra elections. The cited Article states thus "The affiliated State Football Associations shall take all decisions on any matters regarding their membership independently of any external body." In this case, the NFF is an external body. Their only responsibility in a State FA election is to be an observer and make sure that the election is done in line with the statute. Recall that there was no FIFA nor CAF members to observe the 2014 NFF Elections in Warri, the election that paved way for the NFF president, Amaju Pinnick when he won his first tenure. Recall that Senator Ifeanyi Ubah was sworn-in by the Electoral Committee of the State FA after he emerged winner of the August 2nd Anambra Football Association Elections. The election which followed all election guidelines according to the statutes also observed Covid-19 election guidelines as directed by the Director General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu in a letter dated 28th July, 2020. However, the NFF rejected the results of the election saying that they were not aware and set up a Caretaker Committee to oversee another FA elections. To find a lasting solution to the imbroglio, the ministry of sports after receiving a petition from Senator Ifeanyi Ubah called both parties to a roundtable meeting held on Monday 12th, October 2020. After listening both parties, the ministry promised to come out with a decision on Tuesday (13th October). While Nigerians are waiting for their stand on the issue, the ministry BSN Sports learnt embarked on further investigation to have broader knowledge on the issues before coming out with a verdict.