Gara-Gombe rejects Odegbami's plan to stop NFF elections

Shuaibu Ahmed Gara-Gombe, the former chairman of the Gombe State Football Association, has rejected a threat by former Nigeria international Segun Odegbami to seek a court order against the upcoming Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) elections. Odegbami had previously called for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the process and threatened legal action regarding the NFF Congress composition. He argued the current structure favors the sitting administration.

Gara-Gombe disagreed with the former player's stance, suggesting that the move to involve the presidency and the courts is motivated by personal interests rather than the progress of Nigerian football. He stated that he could not support the request for the President to halt the electoral process for such reasons.

The NFF election is set to take place on September 27, 2026, in Lafia, Nasarawa State. While concerns have been raised regarding how delegates are distributed for the vote, Gara-Gombe maintains that the composition of the Congress is not something that can be altered through court orders or the use of temporary committees.

Although Gara-Gombe acknowledged the necessity of electoral reforms within the sport, he argued that any fundamental changes to the legal framework of the NFF congress must come from the National Assembly. He suggested that lawmakers are responsible for reviewing the statutes to ensure the electoral process becomes more transparent and representative.

Gara-Gombe also challenged Odegbami's calls for accountability. He questioned the former Super Eagles captain to address allegations involving various organisations and programmes he was previously linked to. These claims remain unverified allegations.

The dispute occurs as the September election approaches, amid ongoing discussions regarding the administration and the structural organization of football in Nigeria.