NPFL Chairman Sacked Less Than 24 Hours Before Season Kickoff
The Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Gbenga Elegbeleye, has been removed from his position less than 24 hours before the start of the new NPFL season.
The development is part of major changes in Nigerian football following the resignation of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, and members of the NFF Executive Committee.
The National Sports Commission has also approved Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, the erstwhile Deputy General Secretary of the NFF, to oversee the NFF Secretariat as Acting General Secretary.
Dr Ademola Olajire, who was Director of Media and Communications, will serve as Acting Deputy General Secretary.
The changes have also affected the administration of the country’s major domestic leagues.
The Chairmen, appointed Directors and Chief Executive Officers of the NPFL, Nigeria National League (NNL), Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) and Nationwide League One (NLO) have been directed to hand over the administration of their respective leagues to their Chief Operating Officers.
Where a league’s COO is not a member of the NFF staff, the Acting General Secretary is expected to appoint a new COO from within the federation.
Before the latest directive, the domestic leagues were headed by:
– NPFL – Gbenga Elegbeleye
– NNL – George Aluo
– NWFL – Nkechi Nneka Obi
The decision to remove the league chairmen comes at a dramatic time for the NPFL, with the new season scheduled to begin less than 24 hours after the directive.
Meanwhile, all processes connected to the NFF Elective Congress scheduled for 27 September have been suspended.
A fresh electoral process will begin after the planned comprehensive reforms of Nigerian football have been completed.
The reforms are expected to be carried out in consultation with world football governing body FIFA, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the government and other stakeholders.
The National Sports Commission said the interim measures are aimed at ensuring continuity in the administration of Nigerian football during the transition.
Further changes and directives are expected as discussions continue on a new roadmap for Nigerian football.
