The Nigeria Football Federation on Monday inaugurated the newly -elected NFF Electoral and NFF Electoral Appeals Committees, with emphasis on credible, transparent and fair elections ringing through the inauguration hall. The committees have since commenced their works in earnest.
It would be recalled that at Saturday’s Extra-Ordinary General Assembly in Warri, the Congress had, in line with a FIFA directive, elected persons into a new NFF Electoral Committee and also into a new NFF Electoral Appeals Committee, while setting the date of Tuesday, 30 September, 2014 for elections to compose a new NFF Executive Committee.
In Abuja on Monday, NFF President Aminu Maigari, who was away at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland for a meeting of his FIFA Players’Status Committee, was represented by Executive Committee member, Hon. Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande.
There were also Executive Committee members Alh. Yusuf Ahmed ‘Fresh’ and Alh. Ahmad Muazu Kawu.
“The over –riding importance of free and fair, and very credible elections cannot be over–emphasized. The General Assembly has put this onerous responsibility on your shoulders because they believe you are persons of integrity, and the NFF also has faith in your ability to deliver,” Yahaya-Kwande stated.
Responding, both Barristers Ebomhe and Ajunwa used the opportunity to declare their readiness for a thorough job, with credible and transparent elections as the bedrock.
Ebomhe also used the opportunity to unveil a road-map, saying that sale of forms, nomination and return of the forms would be from Monday, 22 September to Wednesday, 24 September, with screening and final list of candidates to emerge on Thursday, 25 September and protests/appeals to be heard on Friday, 26 September.
“I also want to let it be known that all those who have previously been cleared for the elections need no fresh clearance. All they need to do is indicate their willingness to be involved in the elections. However, there is opportunity now for those who were previously not involved to become involved.”
The new NFF Electoral Committee is composed thus: Barr. Samson Ebomhe; Barr. M.T. Ahmed; Mr. Adamu Sani Osmond; Mr. Sadiq Yusuf Zaria; Reverend Onyeaghala Obioma; Eng. Adeola Adelanwa; Alh. Sani Dahiru Yakassai; Mrs Sarah Jumoke Adebisi and Barr. Awwal Abdullahi. The secretary is Barr. Musa Amadu, NFF’s General Secretary.
Also, the new NFF Electoral Appeals Committee is composed thus: Barr. Okey Ajunwa; Mr. Dotun Coker and; Mallam Sani Mohammed. Substitute members are Mr. Victor Nwangwu and Mr. Bala Garba. The secretary is Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, NFF’s Director of Competitions.