Three presidential candidates in the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) elections have petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to stop the 2026-2030 polls, alleging manipulation by outgoing federation president Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida ahead of Thursday's vote in Abuja. The petition, dated 12 October 2026, was signed by Igoche Mark (North Central), Olumide Oyedeji (South West) and Ejike Ugboaja (South East). It was copied to the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
They accused Kida of compromising the process to favour his "anointed candidate", Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria. According to the petitioners, over fifteen State Basketball Association chairmen and representatives were arbitrarily removed barely two weeks before the Extraordinary and Elective Congresses and replaced with unqualified persons to secure votes for Abdullahi. They named Zamfara, Kaduna, Gombe, Benue, Kwara, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Niger, Edo and Taraba among the affected states.
The candidates also challenged Abdullahi's eligibility, arguing that public service rules bar a full-time public servant, especially a chief executive of a federal agency, from engaging in activities that detract from official duties. They urged the President to direct the National Sports Commission to halt the process and investigate the alleged breaches before any election is held.
In a separate interview, Oyedeji, a former D'Tigers captain, alleged attempts to intimidate stakeholders before the poll. He questioned changes to the delegate list and doubted the election would be fair: "We have to have a free or fair election... Are we going to have a fair election? I don't know. I don't think so, because maybe we're just going there to just start with what's already been planned." The election is scheduled for Thursday, 15 October, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
