NFF 2022 Election: Why Players Union, two state FAs failed to cast vote in Benin

The Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN), Imo State Football Association and Taraba FA were three delegates denied voting rights in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) elections held in Benin City on Friday.

On the part of PFAN, they did not receive invitation to the venue, hence denied the voting rights following recognition of a rival group of Players Union by the NFF. The development saw both groups shut out of the Congress.

In September, the Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo, Taraba State, ruled that Sanusi Mahmoud was the rightfully elected Chairman of the Taraba FA and that the NFF should duly recognise him as such.

Sanusi Mohammed who has been pronounced as the right FA Chairman of Taraba to vote was also denied the opportunity following non-invitation by the NFF.

Timothy Magaji, who has been “impersonating” as Taraba FA Chairman for the past three years, was on Friday elected as one of the Executive members of the NFF from the North East.

Sanusi Mahmoud is expected to seek for Timothy election to be nullified on the grounds that his nomination by his home federation, which in this case is the Taraba FA, was wrong based on the court judgment.

Also, Imo State Football Association did not vote in the federation’s Elective Congress in Benin City.

The State FA Chairman, Amanzi Uchegbulam who was one of the aspirants running for the number one position at NFF withdrawn from the race following court order stopping the elections. No one from Imo State was at the election venue to cast vote.