• No NFF elective congress on Thursday, September 4, 2014, says Chris Giwa
• Giwa’s statement defies Fifa order and Nigeria, yet, risk ban
• Seven cleared to contest for the post of NFF President
• Taiwo Ogunjobi and Dominic Iorfa leads opinion polls for president
• Emeka Inyama, Shehu Adamu and Seyi Akinwunmi are candidates for NFF vice president
Chris Giwa has warned against an elective congress on Thursday in Abuja, insisting elections have already taken place that saw him become president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
“It has come to the notice of the Nigeria Football federation that some persons are spreading information to the effect that there is a Congress of NFF taking place on Thursday, 4th September 2014. This is absolutely untrue,” a statement by Giwa, signed by NFF spokesman Ademola Olajire read.
“If there would be any NFF Congress of any nature, the notice for such would come from the NFF Secretariat. I am aware the NFF Secretariat has not issued such notice.”
Meanwhile, in a letter dated Friday, August 29, and signed by Fifa secretary general, Jerome Valcke, the world football governing body has already accepted the decision of the majority congress to conduct the NFF ExCo elections on September 4.
Fifa stated categorically it does not recognise the outcome of the congress held at the Chida Hotel conference hall in Abuja, on August 26, September, 2014, stressing the NFF may be served successive suspensions “should there still be persons claiming to have been elected and occupying the NFF offices at midnight on Monday 1 September 2014”.
However, Giwa dismissed part of the report that officials from Fifa and the Confederation of African Football (Caf) would be in the country to witness proceedings.
“This is to advise all the chairmen and secretaries of the State Football Associations and those of the NFF’s affiliate bodies to disregard the notice. We also urge the general public not to go anywhere near the venue of the gathering.”
Nonetheless, preparations for Thursday’s poll are in full swing, with two notable ex-internationals, Taiwo Ogunjobi and Dominic Iorfa, among the list of seven cleared to contest- in accordance with the Fifa statutes- for the post of the NFF president.
Ogunjobi is a former general secretary of the NFF and present Oyo State FA chairman while Lobi Stars chairman, Dominic Iorfa, is the longest serving club football administrator in the country.
Former Kano Pillars Boss, Abba-Yola Abdullahi; Mike Umeh, vice-president in the out-going regime; chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission, Amaju Pinnick; Amanze Uchegbulam; and Shehu Dikko are also contesting.
The ‘Mathematical’ Segun Odegbami, who inspired Nigeria to her first Africa Cup of Nations title, scoring the joint-highest goal tally, at the 1980 tournament hosted on home soil, did not express his willingness to participate despite prior clearance.
Candidates for NFF vice-president are Emeka Inyama, Shehu Adamu and Seyi Akinwunmi.
