Crisis rocks Nasarawa FA ahead of board election

Ahead elections into the Nasarawa State FA, petitions have been flying to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over alleged plots to deny aspirants the opportunity to contest against the incumbent chairman, Mohammed Alkali.

Purported letter disqualifying over nine candidates contesting various positions into the State FA have been circulating round the state.

Haliru Ibrahim, one of the aspirants that has administered football in the state in the previous past years, and was once an acting chairman was shocked to discover that he was among those disqualified to contest against Alkali in the upcoming election in May.

Haliru, who had contested twice, claimed he has worked tirelessly for the State FA since 1996 when Nasarawa State was created.

Shocked that he is being denied the opportunity to contest for the State FA chairmanship, Haliru, a match commissioner, alleged Alkali wants to do a one-man show in the Nasarawa state FA election.

The Match Commissioner said he would take the fight to any quarter, if he is not given the chance to contest for the chairmanship position.

“I have been around the FA for so many years, and I believe I am qualified to vie for the position. Nobody can deny me the opportunity,” Haliru said. He added; “I have no grudge against anybody, but I believe there should be fair play.  Nobody should think they have the powers to stop others who aspire to run football in the state.

“We have done all the necessary things that we need to do and at the last minutes, we were told that we have been disqualified and that we can’t contest for the elective position in the state FA.”

He alleged that the incumbent Chairman Mohammed Alkali, had manipulated everything to his favour with the support of top members of the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

“It is not right that the NFF is silent on the matter after series of petition to the Federation,” Haliru said.