Ibrahim Gusau is new NFF President

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) office

• Beats Peterside Idah 39 – 1 Votes • Akinwunmi, Dikko, Abba Yola Step Down In Rerun

The Chairman of Zamfara Football Association and committee member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Ibrahim Gusau, yesterday emerged as the new President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The elective congress of the NFF, which was held at the Heritage Hotel Benin City, Edo State, witnessed the participation of 44 delegates from across the country.

In the first round of voting, Gusau pulled 21from the 41valid votes cast, while NFF’s first vice chairman, Seyi Akinwunmi got 12 votes, just as the Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC), Shehu Dikko had six votes. Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peterside Idah, secured one vote, same for Abba Yola, who is the Chief of Staff to the Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare. But the duo of Dr. Christian Emeruwa, a CAF committee member and David-Buhari Doherty did not get a single vote.

However, NFF laws require the winner to have at least 50 percent of the votes cast, which Gusau did not meet. He needed at least 22 of the votes cast to be elected the NNF president. The contest had to go into a rerun.

But moments before the rerun commenced, Shehu Dikko, Abba Yola and Seyi Akinwunmi stepped down from the race, leaving the contest for Gusau and Peterside Idah.

In the rerun, Gusau increased his votes to 39, while Idah had one vote.

In a spirit of sportsmanship, Idah congratulated the new NFF President, Gusau shortly after the election yesterday.

“Congratulations to Ibrahim Gusau. The truth is that I understand politics. People make promises with hope. I came from outside to prove a point. I will be back next four years. The election cost me