Stakeholders in Nigerian basketball under the aegis “Concerned Members of the Outgone NBBF Board” have demanded for immediate, transparent elections for the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) board for the 2026-2030 term saying the current leadership’s tenure has expired and there should be no room for illegal extension.
According to the group comprising immediate past board members, Colonel Sam Ahmedu (rtd), international representative; Professor Florence Adeyanju, NAWIS representative; Scott Nnaji, Technical Representative; Adamu Deshi, North-East Representative; Olumide Bamiduro, NAPHERD SD representative; Suraj Yusuf, North West representative and Olumide Oyedeji, South West representative, constitutional processes must be strictly followed to grow the game and prevent a deepening crisis in Nigerian basketball.
Addressing the media on Tuesday in Abuja and speaking on behalf of the group, Colonel Ahmedu argued that the board led by Engineer Musa Kida has overstayed its tenure and should vacate office following the expiration of its tenure on January 31, 2026. The group, while calling on the Federation of International Basketball Association (FIBA) to intervene and declare the board’s tenure ended and authorise new elections, urged the National Sports Commission (NSC) and Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) to conduct fresh elections under the board’s 2019 Constitution before March 31, 2026.
Ahmedu added that the NBBF constitution clearly provides that a board’s tenure begins immediately after members are sworn in after an elective congress saying the election that brought Kida to office was held on January 31, 2022, in Benin City, Edo State capital and according to the Constitution, the four-year tenure automatically ended on January 31, 2026.
He also stated that there is presently no constitutionally recognized NBBF board in office saying no individual holds a lawful mandate to represent himself as president as any meeting called by the president of the outgone board remain null and void.
Ahmedu said, “We decided to hold this press briefing because there is so much information out there. Some factual and some concocted. This is not a campaign for anyone but an effort by members of the outgoing board to set the record straight. Inauguration does not override the Constitution as the determinant of tenure commencement. The attention of stakeholders, the media, and the general public is hereby drawn to the constitutional status of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Board.
“Pursuant to the combined effect of Articles 21.8, 23.1, and 23.10 of the NBBF Constitution (2019), which remains the operative legal framework governing the administration of basketball in Nigeria, the tenure of the NBBF Board elected on 31st January 2022 in Benin City expired on 31st January 2026.
“The Constitution clearly provides that tenure commences immediately upon election and swearing-in at the venue of the election. The said swearing-in took place on 31st January 2022 in Benin City, with 11 out of 14 duly elected members in attendance. There is no provision within the Constitution recognizing or validating any separate “inauguration” ceremony as the commencement of tenure.”
“Recent claims suggesting that the Board’s tenure extends until October 2026, on the premise of an alleged inauguration by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports in October 2022, are constitutionally untenable. The NBBF Constitution does not recognize inauguration as a determinant of tenure commencement. The Board commenced full operations immediately following the January 31, 2022 elections. FIBA formally congratulated the Board on 7th March 2022.
“Nigeria’s men’s and women’s national teams participated in international competitions under the authority of the same Board beginning February 2022.
Internal communications confirm acknowledgment of January 31, 2026 as the terminal date. Accordingly, any attempt to extend tenure to October 2026 lacks constitutional foundation.
“Consequently, there is presently no constitutionally recognized NBBF Board in office, and no individual holds a lawful mandate to represent himself as President of the NBBF. Consequently any meeting called by the President of the Outgone Board is null and void,” he added.
The stakeholders however called for strict obedience to the NBBF statutes and the immediate constitution of a new board that will l restore confidence among players, officials, sponsors and stakeholders.
