By Gabriel Ameh
A group of concerned stakeholders in Nigerian basketball has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure a transparent and inclusive process in the forthcoming Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) election.
The group, in a statement signed by Comrade Chukwuka Irodu, said all eligible aspirants should be given equal opportunity to contest and that the next leadership should emerge through the votes of accredited delegates.
The call comes ahead of the NBBF Elective Congress scheduled for October 15, 2026, in Abuja.
At its Extraordinary Congress in Yola on September 25, the NBBF approved the October 15 date for the election and constituted a seven-member electoral committee to oversee the process.
The group said the election should not be viewed primarily through the lens of personalities or regional rivalry, but should focus on representation, inclusion and the development of basketball in Nigeria.
Group seeks South-East inclusion
The stakeholders specifically called for what they described as fair consideration for qualified candidates from the South-East.
According to the group, the position is not a demand for automatic entitlement to the NBBF presidency or an attempt to exclude aspirants from other regions.
Rather, it said it wants broader geographical representation within the federation’s leadership.
“The South-East is not asking for favour. We are asking for fairness, inclusion and an opportunity for competent stakeholders from the region to participate meaningfully in the leadership of Nigerian basketball,” the group said.
The stakeholders argued that greater regional representation could help different parts of the country feel included in the administration of the sport.
Group cautions against alleged imposition
The group also called for an electoral process in which delegates are allowed to freely choose among eligible candidates.
It urged relevant authorities and basketball stakeholders to ensure that no aspirant is presented as a predetermined choice before the election.
Reports have identified former D’Tigers player Ejike Ugboaja and Mustapha Abdullahi among those who have expressed interest in the NBBF presidency.
The group said all aspirants should be subjected to the same eligibility requirements and electoral rules, with accredited delegates ultimately determining the outcome.
Appeal to Tinubu, sports authorities
The stakeholders appealed to President Tinubu, the National Sports Commission and other relevant bodies to protect the integrity of the electoral process.
They called for equal treatment of qualified aspirants, strict adherence to approved electoral guidelines and a process that allows accredited delegates to exercise their voting rights freely.
The group also urged stakeholders to give appropriate consideration to regional, gender and broader stakeholder representation in the composition of the next NBBF leadership.
Meanwhile, outgoing NBBF President Ahmadu Musa Kida told the September 25 Extraordinary Congress that he was not seeking a third term and said he intended to ensure a free, fair and transparent election for the 2026–2030 board.
The NBBF’s approved timetable provides for the main elective congress on October 15, while elections involving technical representatives, players’ representatives and other affiliate bodies are scheduled to take place between October 7 and 14.
The stakeholders said the priority should now be ensuring that the electoral rules are applied consistently and that the next NBBF leadership emerges through a process accepted by the federation’s accredited delegates.
Credit: Concerned Basketball Stakeholders
Source: Statement signed by Comrade Chukwuka Irodu, For the Concerned Basketball Stakeholders.
