NBF Election: Stakeholders Decry Plot To Shut-out Certain Candidates, Call for NSC’s Intervention

Boxing stakeholders in the country have called on the leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC) to immediately look into the sudden change in schedule for the elections into the board of the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF).

The members decry plot to shut out prospective candidates from the election, citing deceptive changes in the electoral timetable. They said the election, which was earlier scheduled to take place this August according to the NSC guidelines, was guilefully postponed to October via a publication in PUNCH Newspaper dated July 31st 2025.

However, new timetable and nomination forms for the elections were released on Wednesday, August 13th, with less than 48-hour window given for prospective aspirants to submit their forms.

The candidates are to be in Abuja on Friday the 15th for screening before the zonal elections at the MKO Abiola National stadium on Saturday the 16th of August 2025. Mind you, the zonal elections were earlier scheduled to be held in the respective zones according to the previous guidelines.

For the purpose of transparency, accountability, and fairness. The members seek clarification as follows.

* *Why the urgency to conduct such an important election given an extremely short notice*?

* *Why hold such a sensitive election when most of the coaches and delegates are in camp preparing their athletes for the forthcoming youth Game?

*Why were the zonal elections suddenly moved to Abuja?*

* *How are the candidates expected to meet up with the less than 48-hour deadline on submission of nomination forms that require the endorsement of two persons not below Grade level 14 in the public service?

* *Who are the voting delegates, and why were they not featured in any of the correspondence?

* *How are the delegates expected to get to Abuja from their respective states in such an extremely short notice?

* *Why has the NBF secretary General Mr. Olalekan Faseesin not excused himself from activities leading to the elections?

On this ground, they have, therefore, respectfully called on the National Sports Commission (NSC) to immediately review the election timetable, such as:

1. *Allowing a minimum of two weeks between the release of the nomination forms and the submission deadline*

2. *Schedule a minimum of one week between the candidates’ screening and the zonal elections*.

3. *Allow all zonal elections to take place in the respective zones*

4. *Ensure that athletes and technical representatives are held with sufficient notice and preparation time for eligible candidates*.

The aggrieved members hold a strong view that these adjustments will not only strengthen transparency and fairness but will further give stakeholders the impression that the process is free of bias or manipulation.