NBBF Crisis: Presidential Candidates Petition Tinubu Over Alleged Election Manipulation

Posted : 14 October 2026

Three presidential candidates in the forthcoming Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) elections have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene over alleged irregularities in the electoral process for the 2026–2030 administration.

The petition, dated October 12, 2026, was submitted by Igoche Mark, Olumide Oyedeji and Ejike Ugboaja. Copies were also sent to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House of Representatives Speaker Abbas Tajudeen and Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume.

The candidates accused outgoing NBBF president Ahmadu Musa Kida of allegedly compromising the electoral process to favour his preferred candidate, Mustapha Abdullahi, the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria. These allegations were contained in the petition and have not been independently established.

The petitioners expressed concern over what they described as serious irregularities and breaches of the federation’s constitution. They alleged that the NBBF leadership had begun removing recognised state basketball association chairmen and delegates less than two weeks before the extraordinary and elective congresses.

According to the candidates, more than 15 state association chairmen and representatives had allegedly been removed and replaced by individuals they considered unqualified. The states mentioned in the petition included Zamfara, Kaduna, Gombe, Benue, Kwara, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Niger, Edo and Taraba.

The petitioners also alleged that financial inducements and the influence of some state governors had been used to secure support for a preferred candidate. They further claimed that some aspirants had been excluded from positions for which they had applied.

The allegations have raised concerns about transparency, representation and compliance with the NBBF constitution ahead of the election. However, the petition does not establish that the alleged misconduct occurred, and the claims require investigation by the relevant authorities.

Another major issue raised by the candidates concerns Abdullahi’s eligibility to lead the federation while serving as the head of a federal government agency. They questioned whether his current responsibilities as Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria would allow him to meet the demands of the NBBF presidency.

The petitioners cited provisions they attributed to the 2026 edition of the Public Service Rules on part-time commercial activities. They argued that the rules could restrict certain activities by full-time public servants, particularly officials responsible for government agencies.

On that basis, the candidates urged President Tinubu to direct the National Sports Commission (NSC) to suspend the electoral process and investigate the alleged breaches before voting takes place.

They said intervention was necessary to protect the integrity of Nigerian basketball and ensure that the election complied with the federation’s constitution and applicable public service regulations.

The dispute comes at a critical time for Nigerian basketball, with the forthcoming election expected to determine the federation’s leadership and direction for the next four years. The outcome of any investigation could influence confidence in the electoral process and the administration of the sport.

NBBF Crisis: Presidential Candidates Petition Tinubu Over Alleged Election Manipulation

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics