Dr Mustapha Abdullahi has been chosen as president of the Nigeria Basketball Federation after winning the federation’s elective congress in Abuja, bringing Musa Kida’s leadership, which started in 2017, to a close.
- Abdullahi, who is Director General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, secured 48 votes in the presidential ballot.
- Former D’Tigers captain Olumide Oyedeji received eight votes, while ex-international Ejike Ugboaja did not collect any.
- Ugo Udezue, the only candidate for vice president, was returned unopposed and will continue to represent the South-East in that role.
New board members
The newly elected zonal representatives are Fubara Fobika for the South-South, Babatunde Ogunade for the South-West, Yusuf Surajo for the North-West, Abubakar Abba Kaka for the North-East and Abdullahi Mustafa for the North-Central.
Kida said he was satisfied with the achievements of his outgoing administration and called on the new officials to advance the work already done. Abdullahi and Udezue take over with major priorities including improving local competitions, expanding youth programmes, developing facilities, attracting funding and providing support for Nigeria’s national sides.
Mark pulls out before vote
- The election came after Igoche Mark withdrew from the presidential contest.
- Mark is the founder of the Mark D’Ball Basketball Championship and owner of Mark Mentors Basketball Club.
- He said he joined the contest because of his “genuine desire and passion to contribute to the growth of our game,” highlighting grassroots development, an improved domestic league and wider chances for players and coaches among his priorities.
- After what he described as “a sincere assessment of the process,” Mark said the exercise might have been free but was not sufficiently fair or credible to offer every contender a truly equal platform.
Mark said an election must involve meaningful competition. “If we do not want an election, then we should be honest enough to admit that we want a selection,” he said. He maintained that candidates and stakeholders should be given a fair chance to influence the result, warning that any other approach could weaken confidence in the exercise and worsen existing divisions.
“There can be no genuine unity without fairness,” Mark said, urging organisers to ensure equal conditions for all candidates and allow stakeholders to make an unrestricted choice over who leads the federation.
He stressed that leaving the race did not mean leaving the game. “I am stepping aside from the contest, not from Nigerian basketball,” he said, promising continued backing for young players, improved structures and stronger competitions. He also thanked those who supported him and said he hoped the situation would lead to “honest reflection and meaningful reforms.”
Court case remains unresolved
- The Federal High Court in Abuja refused to halt the election and scheduled 3 November for the hearing of a case brought by Ayodele Olaseinde Bakare against the NBBF and the National Sports Commission.
- Bakare claims that the extraordinary congress in Yola was called without the notice required by the federation’s constitution.
- He further alleges that notices were delivered to only 44 of the 50 congress members.
- The court reduced the period available to the defendants to respond, cutting it from one month to two weeks.
The ruling did not determine whether the election procedure met the requirements of the NBBF Constitution, leaving the result potentially subject to legal challenge.
