Five major Supporters Clubs justify plan to have election, fault Akinsanya’s claims
The five maIn supporters club in the country have justified their decision to put modalities in place to elect a new executive, describing the claims by one Alhaji Kolawole Akinsanya that they want to assume permanent leadership of a Unified Supporters Club as untrue and diversionary even as they advised members to disregard his unsubstantiated allegation.
It would be recalled that the Presidents of the five clubs namely; Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Super Eagles Supporters Club,
Football Fans Club of Nigeria, All Sports Supporters Club and Nigeria Eagles Supporters Club met On Saturday, 5th, 2026 at the National Stadium, Lagos, to chart a way forward for the body.
In a communique they issued after the meeting, they declared
their full support for the ongoing reform in football administration in the country, while demanding formal recognition as key stakeholders in the governance of the game.
The Presidents while backing the NFF reforms programme, called for the review of the NFF Statutes to clearly define and protect the place, rights, and representation of Supporters Clubs. They also demanded the restoration of the legitimate representation of Supporters Clubs in the NFF Electoral Congress.
Apart from this, they also set up two committees; which are constitution drafting committee and an electoral committee to organize an election for a new executive of Unified Supporters Club within three months
But shortly after that meeting, one Alhaji Kolawole Akinsanya Esq, who described himself as Secretary of Coalition For Sports Stakeholders Rights, issued a statement condemning the move.
Reacting to his claims, former Secretary of the Interim Management Committee, Sunday Gullong and the former Treasurer, Barrister Johnson Dagana, explained that the tenure of the IMC, having expired, the Presidents came together to take steps on how to have an acceptable constitution and election of new executives, and wondered why some people who do not want a unified Supporters Club are bent on spreading false rumours to deceive unsuspecting members of the public.
According to them, the IMC which was set up by the immediate past NFF and the National Sports Commission for the six recognized Supporters Clubs was to serve for a period of one year, and at the expiration of their tenure, will organize an acceptable election.
They also explained that part of the Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU) they signed was that each of the clubs will still maintain their identity but they’ll come together as one united family anytime there’s a national assignment but along the line, one of the clubs, for reasons best known to them, started foot dragging.
“The meeting we held on Saturday was not to extend the tenure of the IMC, but to put modalities in place for an election that will usher in new leadership for the Unified Supporters Club since the one year tenure of the IMC has expired and even the NFF that set it up is no longer there.
“Notice for the meeting was sent out to the six presidents, out of which five attended. At that meeting, two committees were set up which are the constitution and electoral committees.
“While the constitution committee have one month to complete their assignment, the electoral Committee was given three months mandate to organize a credible, free, and fair election in the first week of December 2026.
“It will also interest you to know that when the NFF set up the IMC, they told us that we’re free to operate as separate entities since all the clubs are registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission ( CAC) but that whenever there’s a national assignment, all of us will come together as one to give the national teams the maximum support they desire.
They further stated that election of new executive becomes necessary in view of the reform that will be carried out in the country’s football ecosystem which will enable the supporters club have proper recognition and one voice as a major stakeholder in the country’s football.
On the argument by Akinsanya that
If the transitional mandate of the IMC has expired without the delivery of its core responsibilities, the appropriate response should be to return to the appointing authorities—the NFF and NSC—to determine the next lawful step, rather than unilaterally assume that the transitional mandate continues, they reminded him that the NFF that set up the IMC is no longer there and that there was no issue of tenure elongation but rather plans for an election.
Furthermore, on his allegation that the IMC did not record any achievement, the duo faulted him, insisting that the committee did well and wondered why Akinsanya and his group are bent on sowing seeds of discord amongst members of the clubs.
They noted that it is morally wrong and unacceptable for Akinsanya and his group who from their body language, utterances and actions never wanted a Unified Supporters Club to now turn around and start picking holes on the good intentions of presidents of the other five clubs; insisting that they’ll not allow him and his cohorts distract them from their plans of having an election that will usher in new leadership for the clubs.
They concluded by assuring members of Supporters Clubs in the country that no amount of blackmail, lies, falsehood or fabrication of facts will make them renege on their plan to have an election that will usher in those that will steer the ship of a Unified Supporters Club, just as they advised members to ignore the false publication carried out by Akinsanya and his co- travellers who did not mean well for the body.
