Gombe State Athletics Association declares Asaba AFN Congress illegal

Gombe State Athletics Association says it is not part of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, Congress billed to hold on Saturday December 14, 2024, in Asaba, capital of Delta State.
The AFN Annual General Congress was initially billed to hold at the end of November but was rescheduled for December 14, less than 24 hours to the initial date.
Sportsnow.com.ng also gathered the new rescheduled date was not communicated to the board members of the federation.
Meanwhile, Chairman of Gombe Athletics Association, Alhaji Ahmed Gara Gombe says the state is not part of the illegality scheduled to hold in Asaba as the convener of the Congress, AFN President, Tonobock Ojuru Okowa and the Secretary General of the Federation, Ms Rita Mosindi have violated articles of the AFN Constitution relating to the convening of a Congress.
In a post on the WhatsApp platform of the Chairmen of all 36 states of Nigeria and the FCT affiliated to the AFN and that constitute the voting congress, Gara Gombe unequivocally declared the Congress illegal.
‘May I bring to the notice of all members of AFN Congress, the highest decision making body (of the AFN) and also to the notice of the Secretariat and Leadership of AFN that the Congress of today, the 14th Dec., 2024 as convened is illegal due to the fact that the convener of this meeting (AFN President, Okowa) did not comply with the articles and provisions of the AFN Constitution, be it 2017 or 2023 (as amended).
‘Therefore any decision taken is null and void and of no effect.
‘For the avoidance of doubt, Article 10.1.4 and 10.1.5 of the AFN Constitution (2023 as amended) clearly states that Notice of Congress be sent to the secretariat of Member Associations (all 36 states and FCT) 60 days prior to the date of the meeting and all documents, proposals, programmes, etc. related to the meeting be sent to member states associations 30 days prior to the date fixed before the meeting,’ wrote Gara Gombe.
Sportsnow.com.ng also gathered that agenda for the Congress was sent on the day of the Congress while no documents relating to the meeting was neither sent nor received by member states associations.
Gara Gombe also warned the AFN against spending the federation’s money on the illegal Congress.
‘Take Notice that we will challenge thisillegality and the persisting disregard and disrespect to the status of Congress members of AFN whose authority is being abused at will and at all times.
‘Just know that it is an exercise in futility and anybody who collects allowance or expends AFN Money for this illegal exercise will refund it to the federation at an appropriate time,’ he concluded.