Taraba FA Crisis Takes New Dimension As DSS, State Assembly Step In

Taraba FA Crisis Takes New Dimension As DSS, State Assembly Step In

By Niyi Busari

There seems to be no end to the lingering crisis rocking the Taraba State Football Association as factions, footballers, as well as fans joined their voices in one, saying the Nigeria Football Federation should do the right thing by allowing the June 12 duly conducted election stand.

Mahmud Sanusi Mohammed was announced winner as the Chairman Taraba state Football Association in the election conducted on June 12, 2019 at Bali Local Government. While, the incumbent, Timothy Magaji Heman held another election on the same date at Mope Akamase Hall in Numan Local Government in Adamawa state.

The crisis, which began after the elections into the board of the state FA, recently forced the State Assembly and the DSS to step in to help find end a lasting solution to the lingering crisis.

Taraba State Football Association had insisted that the June 12 Football Association election conducted at Bali Local Government was duly administered in line with the laid down electoral guidelines.

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, 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 . The football stakeholders in Taraba accused Babagana Kalli of being one-sided adding that his phones were switched off when they tried to reach him before during and after the election conducted in Balli Local Government.

The football stakeholders stated that they will not keep mute and allow the imposition of leaders on the state FA by the leadership of the association at the national level.