Categories: Sports

Sports Ministry Reacts To Controversial NBBF Elections

Sports Ministry Reacts To Controversial NBBF Elections

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development on Wednesday said it is aware of the recent developments around the Elective Congresses of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) in Benin City and Abuja on Monday, January 31st, 2022.

It would be recalled that two different individuals at two different elections were on Monday elected as presidents of the NBBF as a new twist was added to the prolonged crisis bedevilling the basketball family.

In parallel elections held in Benin City, Edo State, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Musa Kida, and former player, Mark Igoche, were returned as new NBBF Presidents respectively.

In a statement by Manga Mohammed, the Director Press, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, obtained by this newspaper, the Ministry said it awaits the reports of the Congresses upon which it will make its position known.

What transpired in Abuja and Benin City on Monday is not totally alien to sports politics in Nigeria. Two parallel elections were held in Kebbi and Abuja in June 2021 to elect leaders for the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).

One of the elections produced Ibrahim Gusau as president while the other produced Tonobok Okowa as AFN president.

After weeks of dilly-dallying, the World Athletics recognised Okowa who emerged from the Abuja election.

It is expected that world basketball governing body, FIBA will also soon affirm which of the NBBF boards it will recognise and work with going forward even though the handwriting appears clear having elected to supervise the exercise in Benin City.

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Riwan Deola