Appeal court gives NFF go-ahead to conduct Sept 30 election

The court of appeal sitting in Abuja has vacated the order restraining the conduct of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) election scheduled for Friday in Benin City.

According to a statement released on the NFF website, the ruling was passed on Thursday.

Earlier this month, a federal high court in Abuja ruled that the planned election be stopped following a suit by the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) over unequal representation and voting rights.

Despite the call from the ministry of youth and sports development for the NFF to halt the election, the federation appealed the ruling.

The statement said the appeal court issued a “stay-of-execution,” adding that the election would go on as planned.

It added that representatives from FIFA have arrived to monitor the election.

“The 78^th Annual General Assembly of the Nigeria Football Federation will hold on Friday in Benin City, capital of Edo State alongside elections of a new Executive Committee to steer the affairs of the nation’s supreme football –ruling body for the next four years,” the statement reads.

“A ruling by the Court of Appeal on Thursday morning ordered a stay-of-execution of an ex parte injunction secured by some fellows a fortnight ago to stop the elections, meaning that the coast is now clear for an interesting contest for the NFF presidency by 10 prominent individuals and dozen other notable persons jostling for seats on the Executive Committee.

“More representatives of the world football-governing body, FIFA arrived in Benin City just before noon on Thursday. Solomon Mudege, FIFA’s Head of Development Programmes for Africa and Gelson Fernandes, a former Swiss international player who is FIFA’s Director for Africa were in an excited mood.

“Mudege said: ‘We are happy to be here and to witness another milestone in the history of Nigeria Football. We believe it is going to be an interesting Congress with the elections.”

“Among the 10 persons jostling to succeed Amaju Melvin Pinnick as Nigeria football’s supremo are current vice presidents, Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi (1^st VP) and Mallam Shehu Dikko (2^nd VP), as well as current Executive Committee Member and Chairman of Chairmen, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau and another current Executive Committee Member, Hon. Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande.

“There is also an immediate past General Secretary, Barr. Musa Amadu, and Head of Safety and Security of the Confederation of African Football, Dr. Christian Emeruwa.

“Also in the hunt for the exalted post are Chairman of the FCT Football Association, Mallam Adam Mouktar Mohammed; former Nigeria international goalkeeper, Peterside Idah; former Chairman of Kano Pillars FC and respected technocrat, Alhaji Abba Abdullahi Yola and; UK-based David-Buhari Doherty.

“A former NFF 1^st Vice President, Mazi Amanze Uchegbulam, pulled out of the race during the week.”