Pinnick re-elected NFF president
Amaju Pinnick was yesterday afternoon, reelected the president of Nigeria Football Federation.
Pinnick polled 34 votes to beat three other contestants to retain his seat.
Alhaji Aminu Maigari got eight votes; Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi got two votes while Chinedu Okoye did not have any vote.
In all, 44 delegates from states football federation and other bodies including coaches, referees associations and players unions, participated in the election which took place in Katsina State.
The chairman of the Electoral committee for the election, Muhammed Katu announced the results.
FIFA representatives, Luca Piazza and Solomon Mudege were among football chiefs who witnessed the election.
Pinnick was instantly congratulated by the other candidates.
Pinnick, CAF’s first vicepresident, had claimed to establish a financial independence and end the reliance on government funding if he gets another term in the Glass House.
“We have proven with our national teams that the NFF has a very marketable brand, largely thanks to the sheer size of our fan base and international appeal, so it is possible to achieve this financial independence,” the 44-year-old said.
Pinnick and his board sealed some ground-breaking sponsorship agreements with the private sector and he is set to continue this trend.
Also yesterday, Seyi Akinwunmi, a lawyer and a passionate grassroots football developer retained his senior vice president seat on the board of Nigeria Football Federation.
Akinwunmi, known for his passion for youth development, both in academics and in football career, Seyi Akinwunmi easily beat his only challenger, Sunday Dele-Ajayi in what could have been a no-contest.
Despite Dr Ifeanyi Ubah withdrawing from the elections for the position of chairman of chairmen following the emergence of Pinnick as the NFF supremo, he still got a vote from a delegate and Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau was declared winner with 42 votes while one vote was invalid.
Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, who has been critical Pinnick’s leadership following the Supreme Court judgment was absent in Katsina.