Aggrieved stakeholders and presidential aspirants vying for leadership positions in the upcoming Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) elections have formally petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, citing severe irregularities and constitutional violations marring the 2026 electoral process.
In a petition dated October 12, 2026, addressed to the President and copied to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, they alleged that the process has been compromised.
The petition was jointly signed by three presidential aspirants – Mr. Igoche Mark, Presidential Candidate/North Central Rep, Mr. Olumide Oyedeji, Presidential Candidate/NBBF Member/South West Rep, and Mr. Ejike Ugboaja, Presidential Candidate/South East Rep.
“We, the undersigned stakeholders and candidates in the forthcoming Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) elections for the 2026–2030 term, most respectfully wish to draw your attention to grave irregularities and constitutional breaches in the ongoing electoral process. We are deeply concerned that the outgoing President of the NBBF, Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida, who is also the Chairman of NNPC Ltd, has compromised the process to favour his anointed candidate, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria,” the petition reads.
The stakeholders alleged that barely two weeks to the Extraordinary and Elective Congresses, the leadership of the federation has embarked on arbitrary removal of legitimate state chairmen and delegates.
“Barely two weeks to the Extraordinary and Elective Congresses, over fifteen legitimate State Basketball Association Chairmen and representatives have been arbitrarily removed and replaced with unqualified persons to secure votes for his preferred candidate. The affected states include Zamfara, Kaduna, Gombe, Benue, Kwara, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Niger, Edo and Taraba.
“This action, executed with huge financial inducement and abuse of influence, including the support of some State Governors, is animical to all principles of fairness, equity and the NBBF Constitution. Some candidates have also been left out of positions they have applied for by the Electoral Committee,” they stated.
The petitioners further questioned the eligibility of Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi to lead the basketball federation while still serving as a Chief Executive of a Federal Government agency.
They argued that, “It is trite that under the Public Service Rules (PSR) on Part-Time Commercial Activity, under the Nigeria Public Service Rules (2026 Edition), a full time public servant, especially the Chief Accounting Officer (CEO) and Accounting Officer of a Government Agency is prohibited from engaging in any business, occupation or private runnings of organizations that will detract from their full time official duties. Therefore, we are concerned that Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, being a serving public officer heading a critical Federal Government agency, may not have the full commitment which the leadership of the NBBF demands.”
The aggrieved stakeholders therefore appealed to President Tinubu to urgently intervene to save the sport.
What You Should Know
The leadership race for the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has run into controversy as major presidential aspirants—Igoche Mark, Olumide Oyedeji, and Ejike Ugboaja—escalated their grievances directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. They allege that the outgoing NBBF President, Ahmadu Musa Kida, is manipulating the upcoming 2026 elections to favor his preferred successor, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi.
- Potential Concerns: The petition highlights the arbitrary removal of over 15 legitimate state basketball chairmen and questions the eligibility of Dr. Abdullahi to lead a sports federation while serving as a full-time chief executive of a federal government agency under public service rules. These administrative disputes risk stalling the development of basketball in Nigeria and damaging the credibility of the sport’s administration.
- Positive Impact: Prompt intervention by the presidency or relevant sports authorities could restore transparency, rule of law, and fairness to the federation’s governance, ensuring that qualified and committed leaders emerge to steer Nigerian basketball forward.
