We have not broken any rule on emergency congress, says AFN

Tonobok Okowa

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), says it has not broken any rule in conveying an Emergency Extraordinary Congress for May 25 in Abuja. The Federation also stated yesterday that World Athletics is aware of the emergency congress.

Reacting to a letter by the Ist vice president Tafida Gadzama that the AFN emergency Extraordinary Congress did not meet the constitutional requirement of 15 days, President of the body, Chief Tonobok Okowa said that everything about it (the Congress ) was done in accordance with laid down principles. “We are holding an Emergency Extraordinary Congress, and World Athletics is aware of whatever we are doing,” Okowa said. “And because it is an Emergency Congress, those rules of giving 15 days notice does not apply.

We held our normal Congress in January this year, and we need to address some constitutional issues.

Also, due to the emergency nature of the Congress, the AFN decided to take care of the feeding and accommodation of the members. There is nothing strange in it. We operate an open door policy, and it is good we make this clarification to all Nigerians,” Okowa stated. Gadzama had written a letter to Okowa, warning against violating federation’s constitution in regard to the emergency congress. Gadzama said; Thursday’s extraordinary congress is not convened pursuant to article 10.1.7 of the federation’s 2023 constitution (as amended).

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