NBBF ELECTION CONTROVERSY: AWOSIKA CHALLENGES CREDIBILITY OF VOTING PROCESS
Oru Leonard
Damola Awosika, Vice Chairman of the Oyo State Basketball Association, has expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) board elections, arguing that the process failed to meet the standards required to guarantee confidence among stakeholders.
Awosika, a seasoned lawyer, said the outcome was particularly disappointing after eight years of expectations for meaningful change in the administration of Nigerian basketball.
Reacting to the recently concluded election, he maintained that the credibility of an electoral exercise should not be determined solely by the results announced but also by the procedures and institutional structures through which the outcome was produced.
“After 8 years of hoping for redemption, only to be punched in the gut all over again,” he remarked, conveying his disappointment with the latest electoral process.
He emphasised that the concerns surrounding the election should not be interpreted as a dispute involving particular individuals but as a broader question of integrity and adherence to established procedures.
“This is not about personalities, but about integrity. Integrity is not about intentions but it is about structures. That is the lens we must use to look at the outcome of the just concluded NBBF elections,” Awosika stated.
The basketball administrator further argued that announcing winners does not, on its own, establish the credibility of an election, noting that compliance with the appropriate rules and procedures remains essential to earning the trust of participants.
“An election is more than a declaration of results. It is a test of process. By my account, this process failed that test,” he added.
His remarks have intensified discussions surrounding the conduct of the NBBF elections, which produced Dr Mustapha Abdullahi as the federation’s new president.
The electoral exercise has attracted criticism from some stakeholders over alleged irregularities and questions about compliance with the federation’s constitution.
The process has also become the subject of legal challenges, introducing another dimension to the controversy over the election and the circumstances surrounding the emergence of the new leadership.
Awosika’s position underscores the importance of transparent electoral procedures and institutional accountability in sports administration, particularly at a time when Nigerian basketball stakeholders are seeking stability and progress.
Beyond the emergence of a new president, the central concern raised by the Oyo basketball official is whether the electoral process has secured sufficient confidence among stakeholders to support reconciliation, unity and effective administration within the federation.
The response to these concerns, alongside any relevant legal proceedings, could shape discussions about the legitimacy of the process and the ability of the new NBBF leadership to bring stakeholders together for the development of basketball in Nigeria.
Credit: Maxwell Kumoye
