NFF Election suspended as NSC halt Electoral process after mass resignation
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) elective process has been suspended following the mass resignation of President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General Secretary Dr Mohammed Sanusi and members of the federation’s Executive Committee on Thursday.
The suspension has effectively put on hold the screening of candidates, which was earlier scheduled to take place from Friday, August 28 to Sunday, August 30, 2026, ahead of the NFF Elective Congress originally fixed for September 27.
The National Sports Commission (NSC), in announcing interim measures following Thursday’s dramatic development, confirmed that “all processes initiated in preparation for the NFF Elective Congress scheduled for 27 September have also been suspended.”
The Commission further stated that “a fresh electoral process will commence following the completion of the anticipated comprehensive reforms, to be undertaken in consultation with world football’s governing body, FIFA, and CAF.”
The suspension has now thrown the next phase of the NFF election into uncertainty, with the scheduled screening of presidential and other elective candidates no longer expected to proceed as originally planned.
It remains to be seen what form the next electoral process will take, particularly following the planned engagement between the National Sports Commission, the NFF Congress and other relevant football stakeholders.
One of the options expected to feature in the discussions is the possible establishment of a normalisation committee to oversee the affairs of the federation for an interim period of about three months, after which a fresh election could be conducted.
However, no final decision has been announced on the proposed arrangement, with the next steps expected to emerge from consultations involving the NSC, NFF Congress, FIFA, CAF and other stakeholders.
The NSC said the interim measures are intended to ensure continuity in the administration of Nigerian football while engagements continue on the roadmap for comprehensive reforms.
The latest development means the NFF electoral calendar, which had gathered momentum ahead of the September 27 congress, has effectively been reset.
With the screening exercise due to commence on Friday now suspended, candidates who had been preparing for the electoral contest will have to await further directives from the authorities.
The focus has consequently shifted from the scheduled election to the broader reform process and the outcome of the proposed consultations on how the federation should be governed before a new elective process is initiated.
For now, the September 27 NFF Elective Congress is no longer proceeding as scheduled, while the football community awaits the outcome of the NSC’s engagement with the NFF Congress and other stakeholders on the way forward.
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