The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development have suspended the eagerly awaited elections into the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) tentatively fixed for Benin on October 30.
Earlier Yesterday, the NBBF in its official media release earlier yesterday said all arrangements for a hitch-free elections were underway , adding the voting will be done in line with the provisions of the 2019 NBBF statute as communicated in a signed communiqué by the Electoral Committee Chairman Dr Lanre Glover and its Secretary, Barrister Emma Okibe.
“It has been brought to the attention of the Electoral Committee that some people are not clear on who can vote and how many votes are available,” the statement said inter alia. “The NBBF Statute is clear on this. For the President and Vice President, there are 50 votes to be cast. 36 States Associations and the Federal Capital Territory have a vote each”.
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But a letter purportedly authored by the Sports Ministry’s permanent secretary Ismaila Abubakar surfaced later in the evening with firm directive that the Benin election is suspended.
“ Having reviewed the crisis around the Nigeria Basketball Federation(NBBF) and in consideration of the several attempts by the supervising ministry to resolve the lingering crisis and fractionalisation in the Basketball family, the federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development (FMYSD) hereby directs an indefinite suspension of the NBBF Elective Congress scheduled for 30 October in Benin City. All concerned stakeholders are to take note and comply.”
The FMYMD said it took the decision in order to prevent ‘ further deterioration of the leadership crisis’ befuddling the NBBF even as it ratifies earlier elections into the NBBF Board from its affiliated constituents including zones, NAWIS, Military /Para Military , NAPHER , SD amongst othe