NBBF election: Oyedeji raises alarm over alleged interference

Former D’Tigers captain Olumide Oyedeji has expressed doubts about the credibility of Thursday’s Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) presidential election, alleging that some stakeholders are being pressured to influence the outcome.

Oyedeji, who is contesting for the federation’s presidency, said concerns over alleged interference involving state officials and changes to the delegate list had cast doubt on the transparency of the electoral process.

Speaking ahead of the 15 October poll in Abuja, the former national team captain called for an election in which delegates could exercise their voting rights without intimidation or undue influence.

He alleged that some individuals had contacted state governors and other government officials in an attempt to sway their positions ahead of the contest.

According to Oyedeji, the alleged interference included calls to stakeholders and attempts to influence their decisions in the run-up to the election.

“I mean, a couple of days before then, you send your letters in, I mean, you see intimidation, you see people calling the chairman,” he said.

He also claimed that a South-East governor had reached out to other governors, directors and commissioners, alleging that the contacts were intended to put pressure on those involved in the electoral process.

Oyedeji maintained that candidates should be allowed to compete on the strength of their support rather than through tactics that could undermine the credibility of the election.

He further questioned the rationale behind the alleged pressure on stakeholders, arguing that candidates confident of their backing should have no need to resort to such measures.

The claims, however, have not been independently verified.

Delegate list sparks further questions

Beyond the alleged pressure on stakeholders, Oyedeji expressed concern over reported changes to the list of delegates expected to participate in the election.

He suggested that the development had heightened his reservations about the process, questioning whether the poll would meet the standards of transparency and fairness expected of a federation-wide election.

“We have to have a free or fair election. We’re talking about the free, fair election. Are we gonna have a free election? Yes, are we going to have a fair election? I don’t know,” he said.

The presidential aspirant added that he was not convinced the process would be fair, given what he described as developments surrounding the delegate list.

“I don’t think so, because maybe we’re just going there to just start with what’s already been planned,” he said.

His comments place the spotlight on the electoral process as the federation prepares to elect its next leadership, with the conduct of the poll likely to be closely watched by candidates and basketball stakeholders.

Committee assures stakeholders

The NBBF presidential election is scheduled for Thursday, 15 October, at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.

The federation’s Electoral Committee, chaired by Dr Lanre Glover, has assured stakeholders that the election will be conducted freely and fairly, with candidates afforded equal opportunities under the applicable electoral guidelines.

As the election approaches , attention will be on the committee’s ability to address concerns surrounding the process and ensure that the election is transparent and credible.

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