Nnewi – Only a properly conducted election into Anambra State Football Association (ASFA) can assuage stakeholders short-changed by `sham polls’ held on May 3, in the state, one of the stakeholders in the election said.
Odi Ikpeazu, Proprietor of Ikpeazu Redoubtables FC of Onitsha, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Sunday that stakeholders in the election were already running out of patience over a series of petitions against the botched elections into the FA.
He said some of the stakeholders were already getting disillusioned that in spite of the fact that they petitioned the sports ministry and NFF, they had yet to receive responses over their demands that the election be properly scheduled.
He claimed that ASFA election, which produced Ifeanyi Ubah as chairman was flawed.
“It was scheduled to hold on May 4 by an NFF-appointed Elecorial Committee, but for unknown reasons, the elections were held a day earlier in the early hours of May 3, with virtually all other contestants shut out,’’ Ikpeazu said.
He described the silence since the election as ‘unholy’. “That illegality called election took place over a month now and with the outcry and petitions against it, we have expected that the sports minister and the NFF ought to act to correct the travesty.
“There is the need for proper elections to be conducted into Anambra FA board,’’ Ikpeazu said, noting that an earlier one was bungled by the electoral committee.
The lawyer cum football technocrat said the stakeholders were opposed to ‘improper election’ and would use every logical and legal means to fight an unfair imposition.
“I am talking to you, nothing has been done. We the Anambra football stakeholders are running out of patience. We expect them to do the needful or else, we shall be compelled to pursue this matter legally in court.
“They have to come and initiate an election process that will be free, fair and open to all involved. That sham election of May 3 from which some people are parading themselves as ASFA board members cannot stand,” he said.
NAN reports that controversy and condemnation have trailed the process that produced the board with strong allegations of meddlesomeness by the NFF.
The three candidates, who did not participate in the elections due to wrong information over the designated date and time for the polls are Olisa Aniuno (Chairmanship), Akonam Obiefuna (Secretary) and Ikpeazu (Membership of the Board)..
The Anambra State commissioner for sports, Uju Nwogu also condemned the election and called on the NFF to ensure that due process was followed in fixing a proper election.
“What happened on that day was an aberration and in defiance of standards of election rules’’.
Meanwhile, Ubah who claimed he was now the rightful winner of the polls said that his election as chairman of ASFA was legitimate.
Ubah said he was returned to the position through a valid process as he stood for screening and election proper.
He also claimed that Electoral Committee headed by Ephraim Chukwuemeka had the prerogative to hold the exercise anytime it deemed fit. (NAN)