Amids the controversy that trails the Anambra FA elections, the Secretary of the Club Owners Association of Nigeria, Alloy Chukwuemeka has said that the process was valid.
Speaking to journalists in Ilorin today, aftermath of the declaration by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) that the election was null and void, and the constitution of a Caretaker Committee, Chukwuemeka averred that the election was valid.
‘Before now, I have been an advocate of putting in place a proper legislation to guide our football in Nigeria, and until the NFF Bill before the National Assembly in passed and given assent, we will continue to wallow in a directionless position’ ,he said.
‘How do you implement fully the Football Statutes when the law that established the NFF (NFA) made it a parastatal of government Ministry, where is the independence?. It is not about individuals but strengthening the institutions.
‘Personally, I can tell you that If we follow the provisions of the Statutes and FIFA standard electoral code, the electoral processes in Anambra FA election is valid and procedural.
‘The congress was duly constituted, the Electoral Committee duly appointed and constituted, nomination and screening of candidates duly completed and closed, and no petition whatsoever, emanated from either the Congress or candidates against the processes.
‘The Anambra state government only cautioned on observation of the Covid-19 health protocols and asked the Electoral Committee to suspend the election.
‘The Electoral Committee in their wisdom, and in obedience to the government concern on Covid-19 health protocols, conducted a Virtual Election as approved by the Congress, so from every indication, I think the election stands’, he said.
‘The supervisory role of the NFF to observe State FA elections does not in any way undermine the independence and supremacy of the State FA Congress, and the duly approved roles of the Electoral Committee.
‘If the NFF thinks otherwise or wants to act as a government parastatal that it is, I personally suggest that they can intervene by inviting all the Congress members and all the duly screened contestants and the Electoral Committee to the NFF headquarters in Abuja and
conduct the election again, on live television, and in full compliance with the Covid-19 health protocols. That is the only way out of the current brouhaha and also to exonerate itself, with that the NFF will showcase positive intervention as well as secure neutrality and public confidence’, he concluded.
