By News Maker Media in Abuja
Concerned basketball stakeholders have called for fairness, inclusion and geographical balance in the process leading to the election of the next leadership of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF).
According to a press statement signed by Comrade Chukwuka Irodu, for the group recently, the group made the appeal amid concerns over the conduct of the federation’s forthcoming election, following the NBBF Extra-Ordinary Congress held in Yola on September 25, 2026, which approved October 15 for the elective congress in Abuja and October 16 for the commencement of the new board’s tenure.
The stakeholders said the South-East was not demanding automatic entitlement to the presidency, but deserved serious consideration as part of efforts to broaden representation in the federation’s leadership.
They noted that the NBBF presidency has, in recent years, been associated with Northern leadership, arguing that the 2026 transition presents an opportunity to give qualified stakeholders from the South-East greater representation.
NBBF Election: Let Delegates Decide, Group Tells Stakeholders
The group also warned against any attempt to impose a candidate ahead of the NBBF election, stressing that all eligible aspirants should be subjected to the same rules and scrutiny.
It said accredited delegates must be allowed to freely choose the next leadership through a transparent and credible electoral process.
The stakeholders cited past disputes surrounding NBBF elections, including the rival elections of 2017 that eventually required FIBA intervention, as a reason for ensuring that the 2026 process is conducted in accordance with approved guidelines.
Among those reported to be seeking the NBBF presidency are Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, and former D’Tigers player Ejike Ugboaja.
