NBBF Election crisis deepens as Adamu Deshi challenges Musa Kida over governance, tenure
A fresh governance crisis is brewing within the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) ahead of its forthcoming elective congress, with federation member and FIBA match commissioner Adamu Deshi openly challenging the administration of outgoing President, Engineer Musa Kida.
Deshi, a forensic auditor and accountant, raised the concerns in a strongly worded rejoinder to a recent publication on Zazamedia.com.ng titled, “Setting the Records Straight: NBBF Clears the Air on Tenure Elongation.”
The NBBF member questioned the federation’s explanation for the absence of several board members, demanding evidence to support claims that some members had resigned or deliberately boycotted federation activities.
Deshi specifically called on the NBBF leadership to produce correspondence showing that the affected board members were formally invited to meetings but refused to attend.
Board Removals Questioned
He also challenged the circumstances surrounding the removal of elected representatives Scott Nnaji, the Technical Representative, and Stanley Gumut, the Player Representative, from the NBBF board.
According to Deshi, elected board members cannot be removed unilaterally without strict adherence to the provisions of the NBBF constitution.
He further disputed claims that a financial report was properly presented and adopted by the board, arguing that only five of the 14 board members were present at the meeting in question.
Deshi maintained that such attendance could not constitute the required quorum, raising questions over the validity of decisions reportedly taken at the meeting.
Questions Over NBBF Finances
The forensic auditor also demanded greater transparency over the federation's financial and administrative operations.
Among the issues he wants addressed are why, according to him, the NBBF board does not hold its constitutionally required quarterly meetings and why federation funds are allegedly received through private accounts rather than an official NBBF account.
He also called for details of funds received from sponsors and donors, as well as disclosure of the value and terms of existing NBBF sponsorship agreements.
Dispute Over Board Tenure
A major aspect of Deshi's intervention centres on the tenure of the current NBBF board and the process leading to the next elective congress.
He recalled that stakeholders met with the Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Honourable Bukola Olopade, on January 9, 2026, and agreed that the board's tenure, which had expired on January 31, would be extended until March 31.
Deshi, however, said a subsequent communication from FIBA dated March 16 directed the existing leadership to remain in office until October 16, 2026, when it would hand over to a new administration.
While acknowledging that Kida remains the recognised NBBF president until October 16, Deshi argued that the FIBA directive does not supersede the NBBF constitution or give the president unrestricted powers to remove elected board members.
He warned that any attempt to remain in office beyond October 16 would amount to tenure elongation.
Pressure Mounts Over Elective Congress
Deshi also questioned why the mandatory processes leading to an elective congress have not commenced.
He argued that the board meetings and congress proceedings stipulated by the NBBF constitution must be properly convened before the elections, with the necessary notices issued to stakeholders.
“Why has the ball not been set rolling but clandestine meetings are ongoing?” Deshi asked, contrasting the current situation with what he described as the urgency displayed by the federation's leadership during the 2021 election cycle.
He insisted that the NBBF belongs to its stakeholders and should not be operated as the personal property of its president.
“The NBBF Board, like all other National Federation Boards, is not a private property and cannot be run as such,” Deshi stated.
He accused Kida's administration of creating circumstances that have fuelled the current controversy and urged the federation's leadership to provide answers to the outstanding questions surrounding its governance as preparations for the next election gather pace.
Deshi's intervention has added another significant dimension to the growing dispute over NBBF governance, financial accountability, board composition and the conduct of the next elective congress.
With October 16, 2026 now identified as the handover date, pressure is mounting on the NBBF leadership to clarify the election timetable and demonstrate that the transition process will be conducted in line with the federation's constitution.
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