Election fever grips football federation as potential candidates begin consultations
IT is still about seven months to the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) general elections, but the race has already started with some of the potential candidates currently beginning to canvass support secretly for their ambitions.
Among the candidates ready to throw their hats in the ring are two former members of the board, who played prominent roles during the Maigari-led board’s leadership battle with the Chris Giwa faction of the federation and a former presi- dent of the board.
A source at the NFF secretariat revealed yesterday that the activities of the potential candidates have generated anxiety among the federation’s staff such that some of them have been accused of divided loyalty.
Theguardian learnt that some of the board members who feel alienated by the current leadership of the board have joined forces with a prominent candidate tipped to challenge incumbent NFF President, Amaju Pinnick for the top job. One of the board members is a prominent FA Chairman from the southern part of the country, who feels that Pinnick’s tenure as NFF president has made him redundant in the scheme of things.
“What is happening is that some football stakeholders are not happy with what is happening at the NFF, especially the way some of them have been sidelined. So, they are ready to join forces with an emerging group that has promised them prominent positions in the next executive committee of the board.
“But they face a daunting task because to most Nigerians, this board has done very well. The board also has the support of Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung and so it will be difficult to topple them.
“However, things may change if the Super Eagles failed to do well at the World Cup in Russia,” the source, who pleaded anonymity, said.
The NFF’S annual general assembly last year approved Katsina as venue for the next elective congress, which will hold on September 30 this year.