Stakeholders fault alleged ‘secrecy’ in appointment of NFF’s electoral committees

NFF President Amaju Pinnick PHOTO: Twitter

Some stakeholders in the country’s football have kicked against the process adopted in appointing members of the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) Electoral, Appeals Committees.

The NFF, after its yearly general assembly in Lagos, on Thursday, last week, announced the appointment of members of the Electoral Committee, as well as the Appeals Committee for the September 30 electoral congress, which is expected to usher in a new leadership for Nigerian football.

In a communiqué at the end of the AGA, the NFF named Aikhunegire Anthony Malik as the chairman of the Electoral Committee and also announced Gandi Umar as chairman of the Election Appeals Committee.

Others members of the Electoral Committee are Justice Abdulkadir Zakariyya (vice chairman); Babatunde Ogala – SAN (member); Daha Umar Daura – Danburam (member) and Gambo Mamman (member). It has Ifeanyi Dike and Ransom Ariyo as alternate members.

The NFF Election Appeals Committee also has as members Ayo Akindele – SAN (vice chairman); Rev. Obioma Onyeaghala (member), with Chive Kaave and Idi Halidu Ali as alternate members.

Speaking in Lagos, yesterday, the stakeholders raised concerns over the manner the chairmen and vice chairmen were picked by a few NFF board members, saying the names were neither presented to the Congress at the AGA nor were the members allowed to choose from among themselves as stated in the NFF Electoral Code.

“One of the biggest problems with the NFF under the current leadership is dictatorship and lack of respect for others,” the source, who pleaded anonymity, said.

“For a few members to pick members of both the electoral committee and election appeals committee, without recourse to the NFF laws, shows how