Former D'Tigers coach and President of Comets Basketball Club of Lagos, Ayodele Bakare, has raised concerns over the constitutional basis of the Nigeria Basketball Federation's (NBBF) Extraordinary Congress held in Yola, Adamawa State, on September 25. Bakare, who attended the congress as a delegate, made his observations in a personal account titled "The Memoirs of a Delegate to the 2026 NBBF Extraordinary Congress." His comments come after the NBBF Congress approved October 15, 2026, as the date for the elective congress in Abuja.
The NBBF Congress also constituted seven-member Electoral Committee and three-member Elections Appeals Committees. According to the federation, 39 of its 44 delegates attended the Yola meeting, although the NBBF constitution stipulates 50 Congress delegates. One of the delegates questioned the validity of the Yola gathering in accordance with the NBBF Constitution. NBBF President, Engineer Ahmadu Musa Kida, responded that the Extraordinary Congress was necessitated by the need to meet the October 15 deadline associated with the federation's electoral transition.
However, Bakare argued that the FIBA communication setting out the timeline had been received on March 16, 2026, providing sufficient time to organise a congress in compliance with the federation's constitution. He stated that Kida proposed that Congress could vote to waive any constitutional anomalies that might affect the validity of the meeting. The delegates sought clarification on whether Congress was being asked to suspend the relevant constitutional provisions or amend the Constitution.
The delegates rejected both options, arguing that such a move would conflict with the NBBF Constitution and the wider electoral directives. No vote was eventually taken to waive or suspend the constitutional provisions. Bakare cited Article 20.2 of the NBBF Constitution, which provides for an Ordinary Congress to be held annually, with every fourth Ordinary Congress serving as an Elective Congress. He questioned why the federation had not held the required annual Ordinary Congress during the four-year tenure of the current board.
Bakare also referenced Article 20.5, which provides for an Extraordinary Congress upon a written request from two-thirds of the members. He questioned whether the constitutional requirement for two-thirds of members to formally request the September 25 Extraordinary Congress had been satisfied. Bakare argued that the requirement would mean written requests from approximately eight or nine members, depending on the board's composition.
Additionally, Bakare questioned the circumstances surrounding the prolonged exclusion of some members of the NBBF Board. He said no written evidence of resignation had been provided to contradict claims by some affected members that they had never resigned. Bakare pointed to Article 21.11.1, which deals with circumstances under which a board member may be deemed to have vacated office.
The issues raised by Bakare come against a backdrop of a highly scrutinised electoral transition, with the NBBF scheduling the elective congress for October 15 in Abuja. Bakare warned against rushing into an election that could subsequently become the subject of legal or constitutional challenges, questioning whether proceeding with an electoral process that he believes could face constitutional challenges would provide a lasting solution to the recurring disputes surrounding NBBF elections.
Key points
- Ayodele Bakare questions the constitutional basis of the NBBF's Extraordinary Congress in Yola, Adamawa State.
- The NBBF has scheduled the elective congress for October 15 in Abuja, amidst concerns over the legitimacy of the electoral process.
- Bakare warns against rushing into an election that could face constitutional challenges, potentially leading to recurring disputes.
