June 14, (THEWILL)- In its oversight function over the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and acting in consonance with the constitution of the Board with reference to a request from the extraordinary Congress of the sporting federation, Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development (FMYSD) has dissolved the Board of the AFN.
This dissolution comes with the stated expiration of the term of the previous Board, as the statement by John Joshua-Akanji, Special Adviser to the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, disclosed in Abuja on Monday.
In the statement, the ministry declared that the board was dissolved upon the expiration of its tenure: “Pursuant to article 10.4 of the 2017 constitution of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, the ministry hereby dissolve the board of the AFN.”
On behalf of the Minister, Joshua-Akanji noted that the FMYSD recognised the fact that the AFN would be holding an elective congress on Monday and took that into consideration with the dissolution.
The statement continued: “We have advised that the elections should be organised in accordance with the 2017 constitution of the AFN as contained in the agreement reached at the reconciliation meeting held in Abuja last April and brokered by the Confederation of African Athletics and World Athletics.”
As reported by THEWILL, efforts to resolve the leadership crises at the top of the turmoil in the AFN reached a head when officials of World Athletics (WA) and the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), came to Nigeria and laid down a June 14 deadline for both factions to hold a congress that will usher in a new board.
Ahead of this significant step towards restoration of peaceful coexistence and progress in the AFN, the FMYSD enjoined delegates at Monday’s Elective Congress to eschew bitterness and vote for candidates that can unite the federation and lead it with forthright dedication to service.
On Sunday, the AFN’s extraordinary congress in Abuja asked the FMYSD to invoke article 10.4 of its constitution and dissolve the outgoing board.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
