By Daily Sports Nigeria on March 26, 2026

The National Sports Commission has called for unity among stakeholders in Nigerian basketball, urging all parties to prioritise the interest of the sport ahead of the forthcoming elections into the Nigeria Basketball Federation, The PUNCH reports.

The appeal follows recent directives from FIBA, which confirmed the tenure of the current NBBF board led by Musa Kida until October 2026 and outlined a clear timeline for fresh elections later in the year, while also rejecting proposed amendments to the federation’s statutes.

In a statement made available to our correspondent on Wednesday, the director general of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, stressed the need for collective responsibility as the federation prepares for what he described as a critical electoral period.

“This is a crucial moment for basketball in Nigeria. We must all put the game first. The future of our athletes, our national teams, and our global reputation depends on collective responsibility and adherence to due process,” Olopade said.

He urged stakeholders across the basketball ecosystem to avoid actions capable of triggering further disputes, calling for dialogue and strict compliance with established regulations.

“FIBA has provided a clear pathway with the new election timeline. I urge all stakeholders to embrace dialogue, respect the regulations, and work together to ensure a credible, transparent, and widely accepted electoral process,” he added.

FIBA’s position was communicated in a letter signed by its secretary general Andreas Zagklis, which followed weeks of tension and petitions questioning the legitimacy of the current NBBF leadership and the timing of elections.

The global body noted that it had reviewed extensive correspondence from stakeholders and reiterated its long-standing monitoring of governance issues within Nigerian basketball, particularly during election cycles.

“Over recent weeks, FIBA has received extensive correspondence from various stakeholders regarding the governance of the Nigeria Basketball Federation and the timing of its upcoming elections,” the letter stated.

“As you are well aware, since 2017 FIBA has closely monitored the governance issues of NBBF, which tend to become very contentious during the electoral year.”

FIBA subsequently affirmed the legality of the current board’s mandate, stating that it would remain in office until October 15, 2026, thereby dismissing calls from some stakeholders for an immediate change in leadership.

The organisation also set a definitive window for the elections, directing that they must take place after the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup and no later than October 15, 2026.

In addition, FIBA ruled that no amendments to the federation’s statutes would be recognised before the completion of the electoral process, insisting that elections must be conducted under the existing framework.

The intervention followed a petition by stakeholders in February, who accused the NBBF leadership of exceeding its constitutional tenure and called for fresh elections before the end of March.

Source Punch Ng

Posted March 26, 2026

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