31st December, 2010
Nigerian football may witness another crisis early in the new Year, as the chairman of Nigeria Premier League, NPL, Davidson Owumi, has called the bluff of the Annual General Assembly, AGA, held by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, which had annulled his election and ordered a rerun within 14 days.
Owumi, who has the backing of the National Association of Nigerian Footballers, NANF, headed by Harrison Jalla, yesterday explained why he remains the authentic boss of NPL, and jettisioned the decision of the congress held by the NFF in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria on Wednesday.
Owumi, said the AGA’s decision, which annuled his election as boss of NPL is not binding on him.
The former chairman of Rangers International of Enugu in a press statement made available to P.M.Sports, categorically said ‘it is only the congress of the NPL that has the authority and final decision on the election conducted on 8 May, 2010 at Lamonde Hotel, Garki in Abuja.’
According to the former Nigerian international: “I remain the chairman of NPL based on the election. After the election, the Appeals Committee, which is the final body looked into matters of the elections, sat and approved my chairmanship. The congress of NPL has also met and confirmed my chairmanship on the league board.â€
“Eligibility is a pre-election matter and not a post, as rules do not get bent midway in a contest; therefore, assuming but not conceding that the election was not properly conducted, it is only the congress of the NPL that can take any decision on the election.
“The arbitration panel award was not binding on me. I totally object to the arbitration panel because it was an aberration and still in our football regulations. Besides, the Appeals Committee of the NPL has already taken a decision on the matter.â€
Owumi declared further: “whatever decisions taken at the Annual General Assembly of the NFF has no effect on me following the suit before Justice Okeke of the Federal High Court in suit no FHC/L/CS/1408/2010.
“Article 68 of the NFF Statutes on Arbitration Tribunal does not provide for, and entertain such a request as election matters, which has a judicial organ, its decisions are final and binding on such election matters. I believe whoever is not satisfied with my election as the chairman of the NPL ought to have taken his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sports, CAS.
“I wish to assure all football-loving Nigerians that I shall remain the chairman of NPL and steps are being taken to deal with the purported decision of the Executive Committee members of the NFF, which is not that of the General Assembly,†he added.
