…Calls for Election In March
The crisis and cold war rocking the basketball family may soon be over as the National Sports Commission is set to lay to rest all issues impeding the growth of the game
In the last eight year years The Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF had faced crisis of confidence over leadership tussle which had stalled the growth and development of the game.
The issue of when elections should hold which would have escalated the problem again has finally been settled following a meeting held between the leadership of the NSC and stakeholders in Abuja.
By the time the last document was laid bare in Abuja, there was no room left for manoeuvre, no grey area to exploit, and no hiding place for tenure elongation.
Nigerian basketball had reached its moment of truth and at the centre of it all was the dexterity, sharp intellect and vast sporting knowledge of the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade.
What was meant by some to be a drawn-out debate over dates and interpretations was decisively settled by facts, law and firm leadership.
Basketball stakeholders, drawn from across the country, met with the NSC boss to review the governance status of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF).
The objective was simple but critical: establish the truth, uphold the Constitution, and chart a lawful way forward. What followed was a masterclass in sports administration.
Under Olopade’s meticulous handling of proceedings, stakeholders presented watertight, documented evidence confirming that the current NBBF Board was fully operational between February and October 2022.
The records showed beyond doubt that the Board issued official operational directives to the Federal Ministry of Sports and International body managing the basketball FIBA during that period.
This single clarification collapsed every argument suggesting a vacuum or pause in governance.
The implication was clear and unavoidable: the Board existed, functioned, and therefore its tenure clock has been running.
With authority and precision, the National Sports Commission stated unequivocally that the tenure of the outgoing NBBF Board ends on January 31, 2026. No extensions. No reinterpretations. No administrative gymnastics.
To ensure compliance, NBBF President, Engineer Ahmadu Musa Kida, was mandated to convene a Board meeting on or before January 16, where a clear timetable for the NBBF Congress must be drawn.
The message was firm, the process must begin immediately.
Stakeholders further reinforced the constitutional guardrails guiding the transition. Article 20.4 of the NBBF Constitution mandates a minimum 21-day notice for the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
That notice, they insisted, must be issued without delay. Any attempt to stall elections or stretch tenure beyond constitutional limits was roundly condemned as unacceptable.
While acknowledging the need for reasonable preparation time, all parties agreed that March 2026 is the latest possible window for elections, on the condition that constitutional processes commence now. Beyond that, there would be no justification, no tolerance, and no legitimacy.
In one unanimous voice, stakeholders affirmed that elections are sacrosanct, the only lawful and credible means of restoring confidence, legality and trust in Nigerian basketball governance.
More importantly, the Abuja meeting marked a turning point. It showed that under Olopade’s leadership, the era of administrative ambiguity is over. His smart, detail-driven approach ensured that facts triumphed over sentiment and the Constitution trumped convenience.
Nigerian basketball, stakeholders concluded, must return to constitutional order, transparent elections and inclusive governance. Thanks to decisive leadership at the NSC, that return is no longer a promise—it is now cast in stone
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