Di Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) elective congress happen for Abuja under shadow of factional palava, as di International Basketball Federation (FIBA) don set October 15 as di deadline to finish di electoral process. Di whole exercise dem frame am like test to know whether di federation fit turn dia talent base into one stable and commercially viable system.
Di latest challenge come from president candidate Igoche Mark, Olumide Oyedeji and Ejike Ugboaja, wey petition President Bola Tinubu say constitutional breaches and interference happen. Di trio accuse outgoing president Kida say e dey manipulate di process to favour Mustapha Abdullahi, Director-General of di Energy Commission of Nigeria, and dem question whether Abdullahi full-time public service work go allow am commit fully to asia.
Di petitioner still allege say more dan 15 legit state basketball association chairmen and representatives don comot and dem replace dem with people wey no qualify barely two weeks before di election, and dem list Zamfara, Kaduna, Gombe, Benue, Kwara, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Niger, Edo and Taraba among di states wey di tin affect. Dem still claim say financial inducements and di influence of some state governors don deploy to compromise di process, and dem accuse di Electoral Committee say e exclude some candidate from positions wey dem apply to contest.
Earlier controversy surround di disqualification of former national coach Ayo Bakare afta e submit im nomination forms 12 minutes afta di deadline, wia conflicting reports about Mark candidacy leave question for di committee wey Lanre Glover dey chair to settle. Despite all di agitations, aspirants put domestic competitions, grassroots development, better administration and financial sustainability for di center of dia campaign, wit Oyedeji dey push institutional reform and player welfare, Abdullahi dey outline "New Dawn" agenda wey build around grassroots and school basketball, and Mark dey lean on im profile wey dey promote domestic competition.
