As the September date for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) elective congress draws closer, reactions continue to trail the amended statutes adopted at the Federation’s last emergency General Assembly held in Yenegoa.
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The document is expected to serve as the guiding framework for the forthcoming elections, where incumbent NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, is set to face other contestants for the top football administrative position in the country, alongside several other executive roles up for grabs.
The latest reaction has come from sports lawyer, Abiodun Sonaike, who raised concerns over key changes introduced in the amended statutes.
In a detailed review of both the old and revised versions,
Sonaike highlighted what he described as “red flags” that could impact the democratic structure of football governance in Nigeria.
Concerns Over Voting Power
Sonaike pointed to what he termed a dilution of the voting strength of State Football Associations (FAs), which he said historically controlled about 80 percent of Congress votes but have now been reduced to approximately 70 percent.
“On the surface, this might seem like inclusivity. However, the real issue lies in who now controls the redistributed votes,” he stated.
According to him, a significant portion of the redistributed voting power is tied to leagues and bodies that are structurally influenced by the NFF Executive Committee.
He argued that allocating votes to top Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) teams, within a system where league leadership is linked to NFF executives—amounts to an indirect consolidation of power.
“In effect, voting power is not being broadened; it is being recycled within the same control structure,” Sonaike added.
Lower Threshold for Presidential Victory
The legal practitioner also raised concerns about the reduction in the threshold required to win the NFF presidential election.
Under the previous framework, a candidate needed a two-thirds majority to emerge winner, with provisions for a runoff if no candidate met the requirement.
However, the amended statutes now allow for a simple majority.
Sonaike described this as a “fundamental shift,” warning that it could favour incumbents who already benefit from bloc votes across various football bodies, including the NPFL, Nigeria National League (NNL), Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), Nigeria Nationwide League One (NLO), as well as players, coaches, and referees’ associations.
“This weakens the legitimacy threshold and lowers the barrier for retaining control,” he said.
Call for Stronger Grassroots Influence
Emphasising the importance of grassroots football structures, Sonaike noted that football governance, aligned with global standards, including those of FIFA is inherently confederal, with power expected to flow from the federating units upward.
“State FAs are the grassroots custodians of the game and should remain the strongest voice, not a weakened one,” he stated.
He warned that strengthening the central authority at the expense of the base could undermine the democratic essence of football administration in the country.
“When the centre becomes stronger than the base, the system risks losing its democratic essence,” Sonaike concluded.
