The sudden resignation of the second vice president of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Akuchukwu Aghazu, has unsettled some board members of the federation.

Aghazu resigned her position and seat on the Board of the AFN with immediate effect over the weekend.

Her resignation was formally communicated in a letter that she addressed to the AFN president and colleagues in which she expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and reaffirmed her commitment to governance, transparency, and athlete-centred progress.

Mrs Aghazu was removed from the AFN’s official WhatsApp platform in line with administrative procedures shortly after her resignation.

The National Sports Commission (NSC), which recommended her to the AFN Board in June 2025, was said to have accepted her resignation.

According to SportsNow.com.ng, Aghazu’s appointment at the time drew attention because it did not fulfil the criteria set out in the AFN constitution and was made directly by the NSC.

In addition to her role as Second Vice President, Aghazu simultaneously held critical positions as Head of the AFN Road Race Commission and member of the Elite Athletes Performance Board, a combination that stakeholders had described as a clear conflict of interest.

In her resignation letter, Mrs Aghazu noted that she remains proud of the achievements made during her tenure and pledged to continue supporting athletics and sports development in Nigeria through other avenues of service.

Two board members of the AFN, who spoke with The Guardian yesterday, expressed shock over Aghazu’s sudden resignation.
Solomon Aliyu, who is AFN’s Head Coach, said: “I am still in shock over her sudden resignation because, as far as I am concerned, there are no underlying issues. I am not aware of any.”

Another board member, former long jumper Oluyomi Sule, said: “Her sudden resignation came as a shock to me. She has been playing her role as a key member, pushing for things to go well for the AFN. I don’t really know what happened that led to her resignation,” he said.

Meanwhile, the AFN’s first Golden League for 2026 will begin today at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.

“We are in Benin City for the first Golden League,” Oluyomi Sule told The Guardian yesterday. It will begin on Monday (today) and end on Tuesday. The Golden League was moved from its original date due to the just-concluded Niger Delta Games.”