Akinbobola, Others Free To Contest NPL Election

Nigeria Premier League (NPL) Electoral Committee chairman, Tony Rafua, has said that executive committee member, Akin Akinbobola, remains eligible to contest for the position of NPL chairman.

Early this month, a Federal High Court nullified the election of Davidson Owumi, and directed the NPL to organise fresh elections within 30 days.

Although the court ordered fresh elections, it will not be new elections, and only the candidates from the previous polls, barring the disqualified Owumi, are eligible to contest.

The widespread belief was that as a consequence of that order, Victor Baribote, one of the candidates who ran against Owumi, would have a clear, unopposed run at the post.

Akinbobola also contested the position at the time, but was said to have withdrawn at the last minute, leaving Baribote and Owumi as the only two candidates.

Akinbobola, however, disputes that claim.

“There are processes for seeking and getting nominations. There are also processes for withdrawing nominations,” he said.

“If anybody says I withdrew from the elections, they are free to talk, but they will have to prove, according to the processes, that I withdrew from the election.”

That proof looks like it will be hard to come by, as Akinbobola’s position enjoys the backing of NPL Electoral Committee chairman Tony Rafua.

“We do not have any written document informing the electoral committee of his withdrawal,” Rafua said.

“If there was any such arrangement, then it was a private one between him and Owumi as he was said to have asked his supporters to vote for Owumi.

“But as far as we are concerned, Akinbobola was a duly nominated candidate for the elections and did not inform the electoral committee that he wanted to withdraw.”

As a further blow to the ambitions of both Baribote and Akinbobola, Rafua added that there could be an additional contestant for the post.