Stay off our activities, we are independent – NWFL club owners reply Aisha Falode

The leadership of NWFL Club Owners Association (NWFLCOA) has asked the Caretaker Committee Chairperson of Nigeria Women Football League, Aisha Falode, to desist from meddling into its affairs.

The association in a press statement on Tuesday in response to NWFL’s claim on its recently conducted and peacefully concluded election of their executive reminded Aisha Falode that club owners are absolutely independent in ramifications.

The statement signed by its Public Relations Officer Humphrey Njoku on behalf of the association, NWFLCOA wondered why the Chairperson of NWFL will publicly put a response to a correspondence regarding the emergence of their new excos “even before receiving our response thereto.”

According to the statement, “The Executive Council of the NWFL Club Owners Association (NWFLCOA) has expressed profound concerns over the press release issued by the Chairperson, Nigerian Women Football League Caretaker Committee (NWFLCC) Ms Aisha Falode on our body’s election held on Thursday, July 21, 2022 in Lagos.

“As an independent body, the NWFLCOA does not need the validation of the NWFLCC to conduct its own elections or affairs.

“We note that the Chairperson, NWFLCC may be mistaking our election for election into the Board of the NWFL where members of our Association are to vote by the NFF Statute of 2010. We wish to reiterate that the NWFLCOA as an independent body has its membership drawn from Clubs that invest in the League, particularly clubs in the NWFL Championship and Premiership.

“Since this matter has been brought to public space by the Chairperson, NWFLCC, it is imperative to set the records straight. Upon assumption of office, the leadership of the NWFLCOA by its letter dated 22nd July 2022 informed the NWFL Secretariat that a new Executive Council emerged at an election which was organised by the immediate past Executive Council on the 21st of July 2022. This letter was written in a bid not to do business as usual.”

Talking about the consequences of the NWFL caretaker leader’s action, the club owners association warned, “The NWFLCOA Executive Council note that the action of the Chairperson of NWFLCC is tantamount to undue interference and meddling with the activities of the Association. NWFLCOA has responded to the said letter from the NWFLCC and hereby make the content of its response public so that  concerned stakeholders will know the truth.

“Nothing in the NWFL rules or our constitution or even the official NFF letter appointing you as Chairperson gives you the powers to supervise and monitor our elections or gives you the impetus to cancel our Association’s elections.

“We are shocked that the NWFL which is suppose to be an independent body would rise to condemn a free and fair election conducted by our great Association rather than commend and congratulate the new Executives like most Nigerians have done over the past few days. Please note that the NWFL Board are guided by the NWFL rules and the NFF Statutes, while our great Association is guided by its Constitution.

“We expected that the Chairperson will refer us to the section of the NWFL rules, NFF Statutes, the Constitution of our great Association or even the letter appointing the Board by the NFF where the Board is arrogated the powers to supervise and monitor our elections before it can be valid.”

NWFLCOA however, expressed its readiness to work with the Caretaker Committee of NWFL, just as “it will resist any form of interference  targeted at our collective interest and unity.”

NWFL secretariat acting on the orders of its Chairperson had earlier on Tuesday said it wrote a letter to NWFLCOA, adding, “I have been directed by the Chairperson of Nigeria Women Football League to inform you that, the process of elections into office of the Executive Council of the Club Owners Association of the NWFL, as you are aware includes notification of the NWFL Secretariat, so that it can perform it’s statutory right to monitor the process and conduct of the election.

“The NWFL refers you to the process that produced the Executive Council that was duly elected in Enugu in 2020. The NWFL monitored and supervised that election and the Executive Council from the Enugu election is the one the NWFL recognises until the due process of conducting a proper election is followed and the NWFL notified to monitor the process.”