Stakeholders in Nigerian football, particularly the 37 State Football Association Chairmen, are plotting to retain a fatally defective governance structure that is permanently skewed in their favour.
The strategy ahead of the 2026 NFF September election—which may not hold until Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1376/2021, challenging the 2022 NFF election, is resolved—is to continue excluding other NFF federating units and the private sector.
Despite a Presidential directive dated 17th June 2022 to the NFF leadership (attached), and a valid court order, a group of charlatans proceeded with the September 2022 NFF elections and installed themselves as members of the defective governance structure.
It is therefore imperative to notify all Nigerian football stakeholders that the NFF 2026 electoral process is sub judice until proper reforms are carried out by a congress of equal representatives of all five NFF federating units. These reforms must guarantee equal representation on the NFF Board, Congress, and all sub or standing committees.
Meanwhile, the contempt proceedings leg of the ongoing litigation in the NFF electoral process comes up on 5th February 2026 at Federal High Court 4, Abuja.
Prince Harrison Jalla
