FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have directed the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to suspend its ongoing electoral process and announced plans to send a joint assessment mission to Abuja as the world football governing bodies intensify scrutiny of the crisis engulfing Nigerian football.
The directive was contained in a letter dated 7 September and signed by FIFA’s Chief Member Associations Officer, Elkhan Mammadov, and addressed to NFF Acting Deputy General Secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme. The letter, which was copied to CAF, said FIFA and CAF are assessing the “legal, governance, administrative and electoral implications” arising from the recent upheaval in the NFF.
It said the assessment followed communications received by FIFA and CAF concerning the resignations of NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, members of the Executive Committee and General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, as well as correspondence from other Nigerian football stakeholders. The two bodies also referred to the meeting held at FIFA House in Zurich on 1 September involving FIFA, CAF, the NFF administration and representatives of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“FIFA and CAF are currently assessing the legal, governance, administrative and electoral implications arising from the current circumstances within the NFF,” the letter said. It added that the assessment requires a review of the relevant facts, the NFF regulatory framework and the positions presented by various stakeholders.
“At this stage, FIFA and CAF have not reached any conclusions regarding the matters under review and no determination has been made with respect to any potential next steps,” the letter stated. The latest directive effectively reinforces the earlier decision by the NFF to halt preparations for its elective congress scheduled for 27 September in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
FIFA and CAF specifically instructed the NFF administration not to take further steps in relation to the electoral process until their assessment