NBBF Election: Group Urges Tinubu To Ensure Free, Fair Poll
A group of concerned basketball stakeholders has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure a transparent and credible election for the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), while calling for fair consideration of the South-East in the leadership transition.
The group said the October 15 elective congress in Abuja should be decided by accredited delegates rather than through imposition, influence or predetermined arrangements.
In a statement signed by Comrade Chukwuka Irodu, the stakeholders said the South-East was not demanding automatic entitlement to the presidency but deserved meaningful consideration as part of efforts to promote geographical balance and inclusion in Nigerian basketball.
The NBBF Extra-Ordinary Congress held in Yola on September 25 approved October 15 for the elective congress and also endorsed a seven-member electoral committee.
The group urged the National Sports Commission and other stakeholders to ensure that all eligible aspirants are subjected to the same rules, while delegates are allowed to freely choose their preferred candidate.
It also cited the history of disputes surrounding NBBF elections, including the rival elections of 2017 which eventually required FIBA intervention, as a reason for ensuring that the 2026 process is transparent.
The stakeholders welcomed outgoing NBBF President Musa Kida’s reported decision not to seek a third term and his commitment to a free and fair election.
They said the next NBBF president must be capable of uniting clubs, players, coaches, referees, administrators and other stakeholders across the country.
“The South-East deserves a seat at the table,” the group said, stressing that the wider priority should be an election in which “the ballot, not influence, pressure or imposition, will determine the next leadership of Nigerian basketball.”
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