NBBF ELECTION FALLOUT: Awosika questions integrity of NBBF elections, says process failed test
By Maxwell Kumoye
Damola Awosika, Vice Chairman of the Oyo State Basketball Association, has questioned the integrity of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) board elections, describing the outcome as another painful disappointment after eight years of hoping for a change.
In his reaction to the just-concluded elections, Awosika argued that the credibility of the process should be judged not merely by the results announced but by the structures and procedures through which those results were obtained.
“After 8 years of hoping for redemption, only to be punched in the gut all over again,” Awosika wrote, expressing his disappointment with the latest electoral exercise.
He stressed that the controversy surrounding the election should not be reduced to a disagreement between individuals, insisting that the fundamental issue was the integrity of the process.
“This is not about personalities, but about integrity. Integrity is not about intentions but it is about structures. That is the lens we must use to look at the outcome of the just concluded NBBF elections,” he stated.
Awosika, a seasoned lawyer maintained that elections must be assessed beyond the final figures, arguing that the procedures adopted before and during the exercise are central to establishing whether the outcome deserves the confidence of stakeholders.
“An election is more than a declaration of results. It is a test of process. By my account, this process failed that test,” he added.
His comments have added to the growing debate over the conduct and credibility of the NBBF elections, which produced Dr Mustapha Abdullahi as the federation’s new president.
The electoral exercise has faced criticism from stakeholders over irregularities and concerns about compliance with the federation’s constitution. The process has also been challenged in court, raising questions about the possibility of further legal disputes.
Awosika’s intervention places the focus on a broader issue confronting Nigerian basketball, whether the electoral process has provided a credible foundation for the new administration to unite stakeholders and move the sport forward.
