NBBF Denies Tenure Extension Claims for Musa Kida

Posted : 29 January 2026

The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has debunked rumors that the Musa Kida-led board is scheming to extend its tenure beyond statutory provisions and clarified inaccuracies about the January 2026 expiration date.

Speaking on behalf of the board, Sunday Adebayo explained that following a parallel electoral process that created a leadership dispute against the duly elected Kida-led board, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development reviewed the situation before formally recognising the outcome of the Benin City congress. Consequently, Chief Sunday Dare officially inaugurated the NBBF board on October 6, 2022.

Adebayo emphasized that the official tenure of the administration began on the inauguration date, not the January 31, 2022, elective congress date being circulated. “The NBBF operates within the Nigerian sports ecosystem, where the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development serves as the supervising authority for all national sports federations. The formal recognition and inauguration by the Ministry confers legitimacy and marks the commencement of official duties,” he said.

Between the January 2022 election and the October 2022 inauguration, the board could not exercise full executive authority due to the unresolved leadership dispute. During this period, Nigeria’s national teams were withdrawn from international competitions, including the disqualification of D'Tigress from the 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup despite having qualified. Adebayo stressed that it would be inequitable to count this period of incapacity against the board’s tenure.

The inauguration ceremony on October 6, 2022, was attended by key stakeholders, including the President of the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC), and received extensive media coverage, signifying the formal commencement of the board's mandate.

Adebayo further clarified that Engineer Musa Kida is committed to upholding the Federation’s constitution, which stipulates a maximum of two four-year terms, and has no intentions of running for a third term. “I wish to state unequivocally that Engineer Kida respects the constitutional provisions governing tenure limits. There has never been any formal proposal, discussion, or agenda item at any NBBF board meeting or congress regarding tenure elongation or a third term for any officer,” he said.

Addressing media concerns, Adebayo noted that legal correspondence sent to certain journalists was a response to publications deemed factually inaccurate and potentially defamatory. “The right to seek legal redress for reputational harm is a fundamental one guaranteed under Nigerian law and does not constitute intimidation of the press. The NBBF remains committed to press freedom and has always maintained an open-door policy with accredited sports journalists,” he added.

He also called on stakeholders and basketball enthusiasts to focus on the achievements of Kida’s leadership from 2017 to 2025. Notable accomplishments include:

D'Tigress (Women’s National Team): Five consecutive FIBA AfroBasket titles (2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2025) and reaching the quarter-finals at the Paris 2024 Olympics—the first African team, male or female, to do so.
D'Tigers (Men’s National Team): Historic 90-87 victory against Team USA in 2021, qualification to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and consistent improvement in FIBA rankings.
International Recognition: Nigeria’s emergence as a basketball powerhouse in Africa, with players excelling in the NBA and top European leagues.
Institutional Development: Review and strengthening of the NBBF constitution, establishment of reconciliation mechanisms, and enhanced grassroots engagement.

While acknowledging differing interpretations regarding the tenure commencement date, Adebayo assured that elections will be conducted in due time according to the constitution and in consultation with supervisory authorities. He urged all members of the basketball family to remain united and focused on the continued development and success of Nigerian basketball.

NBBF Denies Tenure Extension Claims for Musa Kida

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