By Taibat Ummi Yakubu
Three presidential aspirants in the forthcoming Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) elections have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in what they describe as serious irregularities and constitutional violations threatening the credibility of the contest for the federation’s 2026–2030 leadership.
In a petition dated October 12, 2026, the candidates accused the federation’s outgoing president, Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida, who also chairs NNPC Ltd, of allegedly manipulating the electoral process to favour his preferred candidate, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria.
The petition was jointly signed by Igoche Mark, Olumide Oyedeji and Ejike Ugboaja, all presidential aspirants representing different geopolitical zones within the basketball federation.
Copies of the petition were also sent to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen and Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume.
The candidates said they were alarmed by the direction of the electoral process, alleging that actions taken ahead of the elections could undermine fairness and deny legitimate stakeholders their right to participate.
One of their major allegations concerns the reported removal and replacement of more than 15 state basketball association chairmen and representatives barely two weeks before the federation’s Extraordinary and Elective Congresses.
According to the petitioners, the affected states include Zamfara, Kaduna, Gombe, Benue, Kwara, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Niger, Edo and Taraba.
They alleged that the changes were designed to influence voting in favour of Abdullahi, further claiming that financial inducements and the involvement of some state governors had contributed to the situation.
The aspirants described the alleged actions as contrary to the principles of fairness, equity and the NBBF Constitution. They also complained that some candidates had been excluded from positions they applied for by the federation’s Electoral Committee.
However, the allegations contained in the petition had not been independently established in the information available, and no response from Kida or Abdullahi was included in the account of the dispute.
Beyond the composition of the electorate, the candidates also questioned whether Abdullahi’s position as head of a federal government agency was compatible with the demands of leading the basketball federation.
They cited provisions they attributed to the 2026 edition of the Nigeria Public Service Rules, particularly those concerning part-time commercial activities, arguing that a serving public officer with significant executive responsibilities might face restrictions or competing obligations when taking on additional organisational leadership.
The petitioners maintained that heading a critical federal agency could limit the time and attention required to manage the NBBF effectively. Their argument raises a question about eligibility and public service regulations that would require examination of the applicable rules and Abdullahi’s specific circumstances.
Seeking urgent action, the aspirants called on Tinubu to direct the National Sports Commission (NSC) to suspend the electoral process pending an investigation into the alleged breaches.
They said intervention was necessary before the elections took place to ensure compliance with the federation’s constitution, protect the rights of legitimate representatives and restore confidence in the process.
The dispute places the NBBF’s election preparations under scrutiny at a critical moment for Nigerian basketball, with the federation expected to determine the leadership responsible for guiding the sport from 2026 to 2030.
Whether the allegations will prompt an official investigation or changes to the electoral timetable remains unclear. The central issue is whether the federation’s electoral arrangements can withstand scrutiny and provide a credible basis for choosing its next leadership.
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