Nigeria’s basketball administration has been plunged into uncertainty after congress members of the Nigeria Basketball Federation petitioned the International Basketball Federation, seeking formal approval for fresh elections and accusing the board of illegally remaining in office beyond its constitutional tenure.
In the petition made available to The PUNCH and signed by Maxwell Kumoye on behalf of Nigeria Basketball Stakeholders, the congress members warned against allowing what they described as beneficiaries of illegality to profit from the crisis.
“We must not allow beneficiaries of illegality to profit from the crisis they created,” the petition stated, as Nigerian basketball awaits FIBA’s response with the future governance and stability of the sport hanging in the balance.
Invoking provisions of the NBBF constitution which recognise FIBA as the supreme authority for global basketball, the congress members have asked the world governing body to intervene.
They are seeking a formal declaration that the president and board have exceeded their tenure, as well as authorisation for the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Olympic Committee to conduct fresh elections for the 2026 to 2030 board under the 2019 constitution.
“Invoking Article 35 of the NBBF Constitution, which recognises FIBA as the supreme authority for global basketball, the congress members urged the world governing body to intervene by declaring that the outgone NBBF President and Board have exceeded their tenure and must vacate office,” the petition read.
They further requested that FIBA authorise the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Olympic Committee to conduct fresh elections for the 2026 to 2030 board using the 2019 Constitution, on or before March 31, 2026.
The petitioners, drawn from state basketball associations and other statutory members, described congress as the supreme organ of the federation and insisted that the current leadership no longer enjoys constitutional legitimacy.
The stakeholders maintained that the 2019 NBBF constitution, drafted with input from FIBA, the Nigeria Olympic Committee and the then Ministry of Youth and Sports, remains the only valid legal framework guiding basketball administration in the country.
According to the release, the 2022 elections were peacefully conducted, observed by FIBA and widely endorsed, with board members sworn in immediately, thereby triggering the start of their tenure in line with the relevant constitutional provisions.
They, however, accused NBBF president Musa Kida of presiding over what they described as sustained constitutional violations, including the failure to convene any annual general meeting or congress between 2022 and 2026.
The petition stated that this breached the constitutional requirement for at least one congress each year, with the fourth being an elective congress.
The president was also accused of failing to convene regular board meetings, despite provisions mandating quarterly sessions. Stakeholders claimed the last board meeting was held in late 2024, leaving the federation effectively inactive for more than a year.
The petition alleged that this breakdown was deliberate, claiming the president “turned himself into a sole administrator in order to perpetuate himself in office”.
Tensions reportedly escalated at a stakeholders’ meeting held on January 9, 2026, which was attended by officials of the National Sports Commission, the Nigeria Olympic Committee, board members and other stakeholders.
At the meeting, a representative of the president reportedly attempted to justify extending the board’s tenure to October 2026, arguing that the board was inaugurated by the Minister of Sports in October 2022.
Congress members rejected the argument, insisting that the constitution is explicit that tenure begins from the date of election and swearing in, not ministerial inauguration.
They also said documentary evidence presented at the meeting contradicted claims that the board was unable to function before October 2022.
According to the petition, all parties at the January 9 meeting agreed that the president would convene a board meeting within five days and initiate the process for an elective congress within 10 days, with elections to be concluded by March 31, 2026.
Stakeholders said no action was taken within the agreed timeline, which they argued confirmed that Nigeria currently has no legitimate NBBF board.
Efforts by The PUNCH to reach out to the NBBF President, Musa Kida, for comment on the matter proved abortive, as he did not respond to the enquiry.
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