Daniel Igali has retained his position as president of Nigeria Wrestling Federation in the sports federations poll conducted yesterday in Abuja.
While Igali got the nod of wrestling stakeholders for another term, athletics and basketball stakeholders voted in new helmsmen in the election that was full of intrigues.
Ibrahim Gusau emerged as the new president of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) taking over from Solomon Ogba who did not seek re-election. Total Oil man, Musa Kida was elected president of Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF).
It would be noted that a basketball group led by former president Tijani Umar had early this week held a parallel election in Kano where Umar was returned.
Yesterday’s elections was one in which many stakeholders protested over alleged irregularities.
Some of those who were not satisfied with the way the sports ministry and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) conducted the election included athletics coach, Brown Ebewele, Charity Opara and Rosa Collins who were all gunning to be on the board of the athletics federation.
Senator Abdul Ningi who eventually retained his position as Hockey federation president also cried out over what he called plot to scheme him out. Even in victory, Ningi threatened to drag those who wanted to manipulate the process to court.
The electoral battle would now shift to the Appeals level where an Appeals Committee has since been constituted to hear petitions from aggrieved candidates.
Going by the election timetable the Appeals Committee would sit from the 19th to 30th of this month. Bye elections are billed for July 4, while the new boards are to be inaugurated on the 13th of July.
The winners roll call:
Ibrahim Gusau (AFN)
Senator Abdul Ningi (Hockey)
Hon. Silas Agara (Karate)
Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Golf)
Daniel Igali (Wrestling)
Elizabeth Binga (Taekwondo)
Isiaku Tikon (Table Tennis)
Samuel Ocheho (Handball)
Mohammed Yahaya (Weighlifting)
Prince Timothy Nsirim (Judo)
Dare Aiyemola (Cricket)
Musa Kida (Basketball)
Musa Nimrod (Volleyball).
