AFN set for another Extraordinary Congress as Elective Congress moved Abuja

Sportsnow.com.ng can report that reason has finally prevailed as the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, Elective Congress, earlier scheduled to hold in Asaba, Delta state has now been moved to Abuja.

Many track and field stakeholders had criticized the initial choice, which is the home state of the incumbent, Tonobok Okowa, and two other aspirants for the Federation ‘s Presidency.

Competent sources in the National Sports Commission told our correspondent Tuesday evening that the leadership of the AFN has been ordered to shift the venue to Abuja to allow for fairness in the whole electoral process.

To do this, the AFN is thinking about convening an extraordinary congress either this week or next to approve the change in the venue for the Elective Congress.

Stakeholders however believe there would not be a level playing field even with the shift of the venue as they pointed to the willful violations of the Federation’s Constitution by the leadership of the AFN and lack of clarity in so many issues, especially those related to what transpired at the disputed Congress held last month in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.

They pointed to the fact that over 90% of state associations do not have a copy of the AFN 2023 Constitution and that the purported amendments carried out were not done pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Constitution.

They also cited the number of Electoral Committee members, which they say is another violation of the Constitution.

While there has not been any communique issued at the end of the Congress in Bayelsa, the Secretary General of AFN, Israel Inwang has also not sent the minutes of meeting to member state associations who are the recognised delegates to the Congress almost one month after the Congress was held.

‘The AFN leadership is tampering with the process of the election of the election by issuing the timeline for the elections. This is the responsibility of the Electoral Committee,” says Olamide George, chairman of Ondo State athletics association.

Stakeholders fear the outcome of the elections, and the entire process may be annulled by the courts if an aggrieved candidate decides to seek redress.