Despite its earlier court order stopping the elective congress of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) may have commenced fresh negotiations with some stakeholders to allow the elections hold as scheduled on September 30. But there were strong indications, yesterday, that the elections may be moved from Benin City, Edo State.
PFAN Task Force had secured the order of an Abuja High Court last week to stop the NFF from holding the election in Benin City on September 30.
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court 5, Abuja, gave the order while presiding over a matter in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1376/2022 between (1) Harrison Jalla (2) Chief Rumson Victor Baribote and (3) Austin Popo (4) The Registered trustees of the National Association of Nigeria Footballers (NANF) (trading under the name and style of Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria) (PFAN) VS (1) Nigeria Football Association (NFA) (trading under the name and style of the Nigeria Football Federation) (NFF) (2) Amaju Pinnick (3) Hon. Minister of Sports and Youth Development.
However, an official of PFAN told The Guardian yesterday that fresh negotiations were ongoing.
“I cannot give any details of our negotiations now until Monday morning. But if the elections are moved from Benin City, it means the negotiations are positive,” the PFAN official said.
Asked why PFAN wants the elections to be moved from Benin City, the official said: “Moving the elections is not part of PFAN’s demand. I personally think it will show the strength of those talking with PFAN.”
Reacting to claims in some quarters that the PFAN Task Force is acting a script written by outgoing NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, on tenure elongation, the official said: “How can Amaju be using PFAN? If Amaju has the opportunity, he will jail or ban members of the PFAN Task Force that has forced his exit.”
The court order to stop the elections notwithstanding, the NFF was reported to have made its agenda public last Friday for the annual general assembly. It was gathered that a declaration of the annual general assembly has been convened and composed in compliance with the Statutes of the NFF.
Other items on the agenda are the presentation of the consolidated and revised balance sheet alongside the profit and loss statement of the NFF. Vote on proposals for amendments to the statutes, the regulations governing the application of the Statutes and the standing orders of the general assembly and dissolution of the current executive committee.
