September 28, (THEWILL) – Several candidates for the forthcoming Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) presidential elections have expressed optimism that the election congress will occur on Friday, September 30, in Benin, as scheduled.
Following an important meeting with the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, on Tuesday, in Abuja, a cross-section of several presidential contenders talked to reporters. They stated that nothing had changed and that the poll in Benin will still take place on September 30 as planned, notwithstanding a court order that was issued on September 15, postponing the NFF Elections.
THEWILL recalls that Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered the minister, [Amaju] Pinnick, or any person acting on their instruction to maintain the status quo in a decision on an ex-parte motion made by counsel for the claimants, Celsus Ukpong. He explained that this was in the interim while the move on notice for an interim injunction was heard and decided.
Seyi Akinwunmi, the NFF’s first vice president, described the meeting with the minister as merely a heart-to-heart discussion about where they were as football administrators, government officials, and Nigerians. Idah Peterside, an ex-international, expressed his gratitude to the minister for allaying the fears of all the presidential candidates. Mouktar Mohammed, the chairman of the FCT Football Association, described the meeting as a positive development and noted that as partners, the minister
The meeting, according to Mouktar Mohammed, the chairman of the FCT Football Association, was a positive development. According to him, each presidential candidate was a law-abiding citizen and was aware of the court order. Christian Emeruwa, the head of the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) Safety and Security Department, said the minister’s presentation of the 10-year plan to each candidate was the meeting’s high point.
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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
