Sports ministry defies Reps, sets up electoral committees for federations’ polls

The Ministry of Youth and Sports will go ahead with its plans for the federations’ polls despite the call by the House of Representatives for the lections to be postponed, while members of the dissolved boards are recalled to their positions.

In a statement yesterday, the ministry released a list of committee members for elections into the federations, which each body’s polls to be supervised by a chairman and two members.

Members of the House of Representatives had on Wednesday rebuked the ministry for allegedly going against the constitutions of the federations and internationally laid down procedures for elections into federations and ordered that the federations should be left alone to conduct their polls.

But the ministry said yesterday that the Elections Congress for the election of Zonal Representatives, Vice Presidents and Presidents of National Sports Federations would proceed as rescheduled on June 13, 2017, while the adjusted programme leading to the elections will be released in due course.

In the statement, Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung said members of the electoral committees were carefully chosen based on merit, experience and ability to deliver following wide consultations with the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).

Dalung advised the Electoral Committee members to shun corrupt practices capable of marring the elections and deliver selfless service for the success of Nigerian sports generally.

“The Ministry is determined to deliver democratically-elected National Federations which will move sports to the next level. In achieving this, we are guided by rules and regulations that are not only limited to us, but also inspired by International best practices.

“I therefore urge those contesting not to be distracted by desperate desires to undermine the ongoing reforms in the sector. However, we must concentrate on seeking genuine and credible support from the people for leadership.

“ I urge you to resist any temptation of acting outside selfless service for our dear country. At trying moments like these, the call to duty can be Herculean but posterity will record our judgment positively. I congratulate the electoral committee members and wish them the best,” Dalung said.