The nation’s football crisis deepened further on Thursday with the inauguration of the newly constituted electoral committee ahead of the September 4 elections into the board of the federation by the Nigeria Football Federation interim committee.
While the inauguration was ongoing, the Sports Minister, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, also received some of the Ambassador Chris Giwa-newly elected NFF board members in his office in Abuja.
Present at the meeting with the Sports Minister were Ambassador Giwa; NFF 1st Vice President, Chief Obinna Ogba; Executive Committee members – Chief Effiong Johnson (Chairman of Chairmen), Hon. Sani Fema, Chief Felix Amaechi Obuah and Adams Yahaya.
There were also former NPL Chairman, Chief Rumson Baribote; former NFF Board member, Ben Agarry; NFF Assistant Director (Communications), Ademola Olajire; the Head of International Competitions, Bola Oyeyode; the Chief Legal Officer, Barrister Okey Obi; and Special Assistant to the General Secretary, Dr. Christian Emeruwa.
Shockingly, a supposed member of Giwa’s committee, Chief Felix Anyansi Agwu, who in a press release by Olaajire was said to have sent an apology for his absence at the meeting, dissociated himself from the controversial new Executive Committee members of the Nigeria Football Federation.
“I have never spoken to anyone, was never informed of the said visit and could not have been part of such a visit,” declared Anyansi
Shockingly, a supposed member of Giwa’s committee, Chief Felix Anyansi Agwu, who in a press release by Olaajire was said to have sent an apology for his absence at the meeting, dissociated himself from the controversial new Executive Committee members of the Nigeria Football Federation.
“I have never spoken to anyone, was never informed of the said visit and could not have been part of such a visit,” declared Anyansi
He added: “My purported election into this illegal Executive Board was rejected outright because the legitimate Congress of the NFF did not conduct any elections.”
Anyansi reiterated his decision to align with majority members of the NFF Congress and recalled: “We were at Bentley Hotel where the Congress met and resolved that election will hold on September 4 and did not at any time submit myself for the illegality that held at Chida Hotel.”
He warned that he will take appropriate judicial steps to seek redress should there be any further attempt to drag his name and person into activities of the said committee.
The Nigeria Football Federation interim committee on Thursday inaugurated the newly constituted electoral committee ahead of the September 4 elections into the board of the federation.
Meanwhille, the Chairman of the interim committee, Chief Ephraim Chukwuemeka, while inaugurating the committee in Abuja, charged them to be transparent in their dealings to avoid the mistakes of the dissolved committee.
According to Chukwuemeka, the mandate of the electoral committee as approved by the Congress is to conduct a free and fair election that will usher in a new NFF board on September 4 in Abuja.
He advised them to take into cognizance those who have collected forms from the dissolved electoral committee in the course of carrying out their responsibilities.
He said: “Today, this committee is put in place to replace the former committee that did everything in violation of the NFF statutes, the rule of FIFA and also in disobedience to the highest authority of this land represented by the Secretary to the Federal Government, who in a meeting told us to go and hold a congress to chat the way forward before the September 4 election date.
“I as the chairman of the interim committee as set up by the Congress hereby inaugurate this committee for a successful take off of their functions but I must remind you that you are expected to be very sincere in your dealings with members of the public that desire to buy forms, every thing must be done so that we will have a level playing ground. I want to warn that nothing should be done against the statutes of the NFF and FIFA.
“Our actions are known to FIFA and they have advised us to do what we are doing.”
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the committee, Barrister Sampson Ebomhe, said he would not be cowed as they will abide by the statutes and electoral guidelines of the NFF in discharging their duties.
Ebomhe promised that all qualified persons will be given equal opportunity to express their interest in the elections.
Anyansi reiterated his decision to align with majority members of the NFF Congress and recalled: “We were at Bentley Hotel where the Congress met and resolved that election will hold on September 4 and did not at any time submit myself for the illegality that held at Chida Hotel.”
He warned that he will take appropriate judicial steps to seek redress should there be any further attempt to drag his name and person into activities of the said committee.
The Nigeria Football Federation interim committee on Thursday inaugurated the newly constituted electoral committee ahead of the September 4 elections into the board of the federation.
Meanwhille, the Chairman of the interim committee, Chief Ephraim Chukwuemeka, while inaugurating the committee in Abuja, charged them to be transparent in their dealings to avoid the mistakes of the dissolved committee.
According to Chukwuemeka, the mandate of the electoral committee as approved by the Congress is to conduct a free and fair election that will usher in a new NFF board on September 4 in Abuja.
He advised them to take into cognizance those who have collected forms from the dissolved electoral committee in the course of carrying out their responsibilities.
He said: “Today, this committee is put in place to replace the former committee that did everything in violation of the NFF statutes, the rule of FIFA and also in disobedience to the highest authority of this land represented by the Secretary to the Federal Government, who in a meeting told us to go and hold a congress to chat the way forward before the September 4 election date.
“I as the chairman of the interim committee as set up by the Congress hereby inaugurate this committee for a successful take off of their functions but I must remind you that you are expected to be very sincere in your dealings with members of the public that desire to buy forms, every thing must be done so that we will have a level playing ground. I want to warn that nothing should be done against the statutes of the NFF and FIFA.
“Our actions are known to FIFA and they have advised us to do what we are doing.”
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the committee, Barrister Sampson Ebomhe, said he would not be cowed as they will abide by the statutes and electoral guidelines of the NFF in discharging their duties.
Ebomhe promised that all qualified persons will be given equal opportunity to express their interest in the elections.