By Amaechi Agbo

Three times the FCT FA election was postponed. First was in December 2018 when the election was expected to hold but following a circular from the Nigeria Football Federation which ordered the cancellation of or stoppage of all pending FA elections in the country, the December election was not to hold.

In February 2019, the FA in an emergency congress fixed June 13 as the date for the election of new executive board members into the association.

Surprisingly, the June 13 could not be feasible as again, NFF came in. now they requested the FCT FA to shift backward the election by a week to enable them send in their election observers to monitor the election. It was gathered that NFF had reasoned that since some FA elections were held within the week of the 13^th June, it would be impracticable to send their observers for the elections.

June 20 new date

In view of the inevitability of holing the elections on the 13, a new date, June 20 was proposed which the football governing body in the country accepted.

But some contestants who claimed that they were not aware of the new date kicked against the it and questioned the rational behind the new date without carrying everybody concerned in the election along. However, their verbal protest mounted to nullity as election held on 20 June, 2019

Three ‘Friends’ torn apart by same ambition

It was not unusual in Nigeria setting to see close associates vying for the same position but when a vice and the head of marketing committee of an FA decided to contest for the position of the chairman of the FA against the incumbent, the unexpected is likely to happen.

Report had it that Coach Godwin Bamigboye felt aggrieved when after his second term in office, the former chairman, Alhaji Saeed Talle decided to recontest for the position a record three times.

Mr Bamigboye felt betrayed in that he was asked to step down for Alhaji Talle four years ago with the gentleman agreement that he would contest for the next election in 2018 (now 2019). Efforts made initially to make him have a change of mind were unsuccessful.

On his part, Moukhtar Adam felt that his position as 2^nd Vice Chairman did not give him opportunity to implement his visions for the FCT football. “I am contesting for the chairmanship position because it is the right time for us to chart a new course for football in FCT. We need to move forward. As 2^nd Vice Chairman, your role is advisory and most times do not count. It was in a bid to make my voice, opinion and vision count that I decided to enter the ring,” Moukhtar had said in February.

Alhaji Talle on his had premised his third term ambition on the need to consolidate on the gains achieved. “Under my leadership, we have consecutively run the league none stop. We have the Principal’s Cup and Women League. FCT is the only FA organising Women League in the country. We have achieved a lot and there is the need for us to consolidate on what we have achieved,” Talle said in February

How Bamigboye struck the final punch

On paper, there were three camps based on the personalities of the key actors involved in the election.

There were three candidates for the chairmanship position – Alhaji Saeed Musa Talle, then incumbent chairman; Mr Mohammed Moukhtar Adam former 2^nd Vice chairman; and Mr Godwin Bamigboye a former board member and incumbent chairman of the FCT Coaches Association.

Whereas many had believed that Alhaji Talle had the power of incumbency going for him, others feared the ability of Mr Adam to swing the pendulum to his side with the power of money. Mr Bamigboye was not within the equation but he was never a push over.

But unbeknown to many outsiders, Bamigboye had another plan. As the elections were about to commence, he addressed the delegates and observers and informed them that based on the fact that “The electoral guidelines have been violated by the Electoral Committee who failed to give him room nor addressed the issue, I withdrew my candidature for the election.”

That pronouncement pitched the delegates between power of incumbency and power of money. With several nocturnal meetings held including a late midnight on Thursday morning. It was gathered that a meeting was held from Wednesday night into 1am Thursday. Prior to the meeting, analysts believed that the then incumbent candidate, Musa Talle was cruising to victory. It was reported that 12 delegates were “solidly” behind him. Unfortunately, at the end of the voting, the margin between Musa Talle and his erstwhile vice was too wide.

The elections scorecard

Mohammed Adam Mukhtar emerged the new chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Football Association after he got a total of 11 votes to defeat the incumbent chairman, Musa Talle who got 4 votes.

In the other elections, Patrick Ngwaogu, the incumbent 1^st Vice Chairman lost to Kolo Salisu. Mr Salisu had 10 votes to defeat Mr Ngwaogu who got 5 votes

For the office of 2^nd Vice Chairman, John Gaza secured a total of 9 votes to defeat Sariki Hamidu who got 6 votes

Ngozi Eze got 11 votes to defeat Barrister Victoria Nlemigbo who got 4 votes for the position of female representative in the Board.

In other elections for the position of Ordinary Board Member, the following emerged winners – Hasimu Adamu, 9 votes. Bassey Patrick, 8 votes. Wakali John 7 votes. Abimbola Samuel, 9 votes. The 4 winners scored the highest number of votes to emerge winners.