Delegates and newly elected board members of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) have begun arriving in Abuja ahead of the highly anticipated presidential election scheduled for Thursday. The election, initially set for Asaba, Delta State, was moved to Abuja following advice from the National Sports Commission (NSC) due to concerns about the neutrality of the venue.
Several key developments have shaped the electoral landscape. Retired Commodore Omatseye Nesiama has withdrawn from the presidential race, while Sir Constantine Itiako Ikpokpo lost Gabriel Okon in the South-South Zonal election. Sunday Adeleye’s eligibility to contest from the North West Zone remains uncertain, pending the Electoral Appeal Committee’s judgment.
Several board member elections are still pending, including the South East representative, where Victor Okorie and Innocent Ugochukwu Iheme are locked in a battle. The technical officials and coaches representative election has also been inconclusive, with Solomon Aliyu and Professor Lucas Ogunjimi currently in a deadlock.
Chief Tonobok Okowa, seeking re-election, highlighted his achievements, including the “GET OUR ATHLETES IN SCHOOL” program, which has secured scholarships for athletes in American colleges and universities. He emphasized the progress made in Nigerian athletics under his leadership and expressed confidence in securing a second term.
The new AFN board features several notable members, including Olalekan Stephen Soetan, Gabriel Okon, and Fatimat Yusuf Olukoju representing National association of women in sports, a former quarter-miler who may vie for the position of second Vice President. Other positions, such as athletes’ representative and representative of the National Association Of Physical, Health Education, Recreation, Sports and Dance (NAPHER-SD), are yet to be decided.
As the election approaches, stakeholders are keenly watching the developments, aware that the outcome will shape the future of athletics in Nigeria.
