Basketball in Limbo: Congress Seeks FIBA Intervention For NBBF Elections
By TAYO TAIWO (T. T.) OLUWOLE
Dispute Over NBBF Board Tenure
TENSIONS in Nigerian basketball escalated as more than two-thirds of the NBBF Congress formally appealed to FIBA to sanction the National Sports Commission (NSC) and Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) to conduct an Extraordinary Congress and elections for a new board.
The petition, dated 1 February 2026, cites alleged constitutional violations by the outgoing NBBF board under President Musa Kida, including the illegal extension of its tenure beyond the two-term, four-year limit ending 31 January 2026. Congress members also noted that no congress or board meetings had been convened since 2022, violating Articles 20.2 and 21.9 of the federation’s constitution.
During a stakeholders’ meeting on 9 January, attempts by the outgoing board to justify prolonging its tenure until October 2026 were reportedly rejected. Congress members argue that the board’s tenure officially began on 31 January 2022 and any extension is unconstitutional.
The petitioners backed their claims with letters from the NOC, the outgoing president, and state association officials, emphasizing the need for immediate elections. They requested that FIBA declare the current board’s tenure expired and authorize NSC and NOC to conduct elections for the 2026–2030 term under the 2019 constitution, with results concluded by 31 March 2026.
The Congress insists that timely intervention from FIBA is critical to prevent further stagnation, restore constitutional order, and ensure the continuity of basketball governance in Nigeria.
