Emeruwa clears doubts over eligibility for NFF Presidency

The Head of safety and Security for Confederation of African Football (CAF), Dr. Christian Emeruwa, has said that he was eligible to run as the head of the country’s football body.

Speaking on his eligibility for the presidency of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in Lagos yesterday, Emeruwa revealed that the provisions in the NFF Electoral Act made it possible for him to run despite spurious claims by others eyeing the leadership of Sunday Dankaro house that the seasoned sports administrator was not qualified to run.

Emeruwa said he was more than competent to contest for the election, adding it would be

‘ a turnaround time’ for Nigerian football since his vision and strategy would be in tandem with international best practices.

Emeruwa, quoting from the NFF Electoral Act, said inter alia : “For the election of the President, two-third of the votes recorded as valid should be necessary in the first ballot. In a second or any other requisite ballot, an absolute majority of votes recorded, 50 percent or more is sufficient if there are more than two candidates.

“Only members of the NFF may propose candidates for the office of the President of NFF. Members shall notify the general secretariat in writing on the name of the candidate for the president of the NFF at least two months before the date of the General Assembly.”

He continued:” The statutes did not say only members can become president, it states only members can propose candidates for the president. Members include state associations, referee associations, coaches associations, leagues and players unions.

“I am from Abia state and I am being proposed (to run) by my state football association because my state association is a member of the Nigeria Football Federation.

“Let nobody deceive us, the statues are clear on how the candidates for President should be proposed. The statues never said you must be a member and when you go further and read the electoral guidelines: ‘Eligibility; the person shall be to contest election into the executive committee if; 1: he is a citizen of Nigeria in accordance with the provision Subsection 39 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’, I am not a Nigerian?” he queried.

He said his administration if elected, would ‘want to remodel the existing foundation of Nigerian football and build a new foundation whose pillars will be enshrined on administrative competence, credibility, transparence, accountability and above all, integrity’ and insisted that he will have zero tolerance for corruption

“My strategy and vision is to rebuild the NFF as a world class, innovative organisation , inspiring a whole nation and every boy and girl to be part of the Nigerian football family,” he noted.

Emeruwa’s declaration in Lagos was attended by former Secretary General of Nigeria football, Dr. Bolaji Ojo-Oba who described him fit for the exalted position.