NPL may disqualify erring candidates, as elections hold tomorrow

AFTER a prolonged delay occasioned by disputes over the eligibility of some of the aspirants, the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) board elections will now hold tomorrow in Abuja, the electoral panel has announced.

But the NPL has warned that it would disqualify any candidate that breached its guidelines on behaviour before the polls. Electoral panel chairman, Tony Rafua, disclosed yesterday that the body would disqualify any candidate who rents hotel accommodation for any delegate to the polls, adding that the panel has reserved accommodation for the 20 club representatives.

According to Rafua, “candidates can campaign for votes using their phones, but nobody is permitted to solicit for votes within the delegates’ hotel. The penalty for contravening this law is disqualification from the entire exercise.”

He disclosed that the election was fixed for tomorrow because of the urgent need to reconstitute the NPL board to ensue a smooth conduct of its affairs. He named the three candidates eligible to contest the chairmanship as Bayelsa United’s Chairman, Rumson Baribote, Enugu Rangers’ former general manager, Davidson Owumi, and a member of the board of Sunshine Stars of Akure and Special Adviser on Sports to Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Akin Akinbobola.