Sharks congratulates Owumi, as new board is set for inauguration

IN what looks like a change of stance, Sharks of Port Harcourt, which boycotted last weekend’s Nigeria Premier League (NPL) board election, has congratulated the newly elected chairman of the board, Davidson Owumi.

Owumi defeated the Chairman of Bayelsa United, Victor Baribote, by 13 votes to 4. Delegates from Sharks, Dolphin and Bayelsa United boycotted the elections because “Owumi is not qualified” to contest the polls.

Baribote told journalists after the polls that he would take the electoral panel to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) because the body was not fair to all the candidates. He accused the panel of bias and refusal to follow the guidelines in clearing Owumi for the polls.

He alleged that Owumi was just a board member of Rangers FC, therefore, should not have been allowed to contest for the chairmanship of the board. He said: ” I am not yet a member of this board until I finish my case with the committee for perpetuating illegality in the election of Davidson Owumi as board chairman.”

But in what looks like a change of stance, Sharks yesterday wrote to Owumi congratulating him on his victory. In the letter made available to The Guardian, Sharks’ Secretary, Cyril Wite, wrote: “Congratulations my chairman. Rivers State Government, sponsors of Sharks FC, management and players of the team felicitate with you on your resounding victory at the poll as NPL board chairman. May God bless your reign.”

Meanwhile, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Sani Lulu, is expected to inaugurate the new board of the NPL this week, sources close to the federation have revealed. Lulu, who just returned from Cote d’Ivoire at the weekend, is expected to perform the ceremony at the office of the league body.

The new board has seven members with its vice chairman, Shehu Gusau; Joseph Amene and Abdullahi Danbaba returning for second term.