DALUNG WARNS AGAINST ANTI-ELECTION ACTIVITIES

The Ministry of Youth and Sports says it has come to its notice that some former Presidents of dissolved  boards of sports federations are planning to undermine the laid down process for the forthcoming elections into National Sports Federations and has advised all contestants to abide by the rules and guidelines adopted by stakeholders of the various sports and the Nigeria Olympic Committee. 

The Minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung gave the advice today in Abuja while maintaining the Ministry's commitment to producing democratically elected Sports Federations.

Barrister Dalung reiterated that all sports Federations' boards have been dissolved after the expiration of their four-year term and remain so to make way for credible elections.

"The boards of all the federations have been dissolved. There is no autonomous board or Federation anywhere. The boards are funded by the federal government and are on federal government's budget. Anybody involved  or trying to disturb the public peace will have the law agencies to contend with. The date of all sports federations' elections including the Zonal representatives, Vice Presidents and Presidents remains June 13, 2017."

The Minister also warned that anybody contributing money or doing business with any of the outgone Presidents of the dissolved federations' boards at this time, does so at his or her own risk as all boards have been dissolved with the Secretaries holding forth till the elections. 

Barrister Dalung restated that the ministry will do everything in its capacity to ensure a level playing field for all contestants where all shall be given equal opportunities to realize their ambition to contest the elections.

" Those heating up the sports space are those government nominees who were hand picked to serve on the various boards. The election format has since changed and every contestant must abide by the adopted guidelines. The date has been fixed for June 13, 2017. Any other activity outside the programme of the supervising ministry is illegal and anyone who heats up the polity or tries to undermine the government will have the law enforcement agencies to contend with."

Barrister Dalung however assured the sports stakeholders of a credible electoral process in the run up to the elections and advised contestants to shun activities capable of scuttling the process.