Former D'Tigers coach and President of Comets Basketball Club of Lagos, Ayodele Bakare, has raised concerns over the legitimacy of the Nigeria Basketball Federation's (NBBF) Extraordinary Congress held in Yola, Adamawa state, on September 25, 2026. Bakare attended the congress as a delegate and made his observations in a personal account titled "The Memoirs of a Delegate to the 2026 NBBF Extraordinary Congress." He questions the constitutional basis of the congress and its implications for the upcoming elective congress scheduled for October 15, 2026.
The NBBF Congress approved October 15, 2026, as the date for the elective congress in Abuja and 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. Bakare argues that the FIBA communication setting out the timeline was received on March 16, 2026, providing sufficient time to organise a congress in compliance with the federation's constitution.
During the congress, one of the delegates questioned the validity of the Yola gathering, prompting NBBF President Engineer Ahmadu Musa Kida to respond that the Extraordinary Congress was necessitated by the need to meet the October 15 deadline. However, Bakare disagrees, stating that the timeframe provided sufficient time to organise a congress in compliance with the constitution. Kida proposed that Congress could vote to waive any constitutional anomalies, but delegates rejected this option, arguing it would conflict with the NBBF Constitution and electoral directives.
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. Additionally, he referenced Article 20.5, which provides for an Extraordinary Congress upon a written request from two-thirds of the members, and questioned whether this requirement had been satisfied.
Bakare also questioned the circumstances surrounding the prolonged exclusion of some members of the NBBF Board, citing a lack of written evidence of resignation. He referenced Articles 21.11.1, 21.14, and 21.15, concerning board member vacancies, suspension, and removal, as well as Article 29. The issues raised by Bakare come against a backdrop of a highly scrutinised electoral transition, with the NBBF having formally scheduled the elective congress for October 15 in Abuja.
The NBBF has scheduled elections for technical, players', and other affiliate representatives between October 7 and 14. However, Bakare warned that rushing into an election that could face constitutional challenges may not provide a lasting solution to recurring disputes surrounding NBBF elections. He raised concerns about the potential for a governance vacuum if the electoral process extends beyond October 15, the date by which the current board's recognised tenure is expected to end.
Bakare concluded by asking whether the NBBF should prioritise strict adherence to its constitutional procedures in pursuit of a more permanent solution to the federation's recurring electoral disputes. He stated that his next instalment will examine the "contentious removals and replacements of Delegates" to the Yola Congress and what the NBBF Constitution provides on the matter. The concerns raised by Bakare may have implications for the legitimacy of the proposed NBBF election.
Key points
- Ex-D'Tigers coach Ayodele Bakare questions the legitimacy of the NBBF Extraordinary Congress.
- The NBBF has scheduled the elective congress for October 15, 2026, despite concerns over its legitimacy.
- Bakare warns that rushing into an election that could face constitutional challenges may not provide a lasting solution to recurring disputes.
