The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has reportedly shelved plans to conduct fresh elections into the 36 State Football Association boards and local football council structures.
The proposed elections had been scheduled as part of wider reforms aimed at restructuring Nigeria’s football administration from the grassroots level upward.
Acting NFF General Secretary, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, had previously indicated in correspondence that fresh elections could be conducted across the states, with the local council elections expected to precede those of the State Football Associations.
However, a top NFF source told BSN Sports that the proposed exercise is now likely to be abandoned following the anticipated intervention of the Normalisation Committee expected to oversee the federation’s transition.
According to the source, the committee is expected to complete its mandate and pave the way for the emergence of a new NFF board by December 2026.
The development could have significant implications for the existing football administration structures across the country, particularly as State FAs form a major component of the NFF Congress.
The proposed restructuring comes amid the ongoing crisis within the NFF, following the mass resignations of President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and several members of the Executive Committee.
FIFA and CAF have since engaged Nigerian football stakeholders on the way forward, including the possibility of a transitional arrangement to restore stability and facilitate fresh elections.
However, the NFF has yet to issue an official public statement confirming the cancellation of the State FA and local council elections.
Until formal directives are issued, the status of the proposed elections remains subject to the outcome of the reform process.
