Shehu Ibrahim Gusau and Sunday Adeleye booted out of NOC race

Former President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, Engr Shehu Ibrahim Gusau’s ambition to become the next president of the Nigeria Olympic Committee has been truncated after he was listed among the candidates disqualified by the electoral body.

Gusau, who is still fighting to be recognised as the authentic President of the AFN after the NOC, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and World Athletics rejected the June 14 elective congress his faction of the AFN conducted in Kebbi was seen in Asaba during the 21st National Sports Festival ostensibly lobbying the man he is challenging in court for the post of AFN preisdent, Tonobock Okowa to sign his nomination form.

Also disqualified is Sunday Omotayo Adeleye, Gusau’s appointed technical director of the AFN.

Adeleye was bidding to be elected the treasurer of the NOC despite not having any known qualification in financial matters after he left the Nigeria Police Force.

According to the electoral committee, the documents presented by Gusau for the position of President and Adeleye for the post of Treasurer did not meet the requirements as contained in the Electoral Guidelines.

Following his disqualification, Gusau will now focus his attention on the suit he instituted challenging the legitimacy of Okowa as the AFN president and the June 14 elective congress held in Abuja.

The case will come up sometimes in February 2023 albeit World Athletics, the supreme governing body for the sport of track and field in the world has refused to recognise Gusau’s elective congress in Kebbi which was organised in accordance with the 2019 amended constitution of the federation.

World Athletics, in a letter to Gusau insisted the elections into the board of the AFN must be done in accordnace with the 2017 constitution of the federation which came into force in November 2017.

Meanwhile, other members of the athletics family cleared to take part in the NOC election which comes up on Thursday, December 15, 2022 in Jalingo, Taraba state are chief Solomon Ogba, a two-time president of the AFN who is vying to be retained as the first vice president of the NOC and Mrs Maria Worphil, a two-time Secretary General of the AFN.

Also cleared is Rosa Collins, a former African Games triple jump champion and record holder.