NFF Election: FG Seals Pinnick’s Fate, Orders Expansion Of Voting Bloc

Nigeria’s government has ordered the country’s football body, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to, with immediate action, expand the voting bloc in the Federation ahead of the September election.

A letter dated 17th June 2022 signed by the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare quotes President Muhammadu Buhari as issuing the directive in the interest of football development in Nigeria.

The letter titled: “President Buhari’s Immediate Directives On Football Administration” was addressed to the Nigeria Football Federation and read thus: “Following the federal government’s renewed commitment to the growth and football development of football in the country, I hereby convey to you Mr President’s immediate directives as that: 

A. That the NFF leadership is to ensure that September 2022 scheduled for the NFF executive election is complied with in line with the expiration of the current board’s tenure. 

B. That the necessary electoral process commences timely so as to give Nigerians interested in contributing their expertise to the development of football the opportunity to do so.

C. The inclusion of other concerned stakeholders hitherto disfranchised or denied equal representation in the NFF Congress and their representatives at the Executive Congress are made eligible to vote and be voted for, henceforth. 

D. The NFF is to ensure that the amended/new statutes reflect our national yearnings, aspiration and peculiarities as a sovereign nation, whilst aligning with the principles and objectives of football as set by FIFA 

          2. The NFF is by this letter enjoined to ensure immediate compliance with these presidential directives and provide timely updates to the Ministry. 

A group of 28 State football association chairmen have been clamouring for drastic changes in the NFF constitution.

The group, we are reliably informed, is currently meeting in a hotel in the nation’s capital, Abuja 

It was authoritatively gathered that Amaju Pinnick is seeking a third term in office despite making it public in the past that he has no such intention.