Amaju Pinnick, new NFF chair

Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission, Amaju Pinnick has emerged new President of the Nigeria Football Federation after winning the election this afternoon in Warri, Delta State.

The day came with its dose of controversy though, as electoral committee chairman Samson Ebomhe was taken into custody from Warri for some hours, eventually being released around Noon.

Then a candidate in the elections, Dominic Iorfa alleged the elections had already been decided before polls began and displayed a list of the winners. Ebomhe however disavowed Iorfa’s list and assured that the electoral process would be free and fair.

Meanwhile outgoing NFF General Secretary, Musa Amadu, confirmed representatives from FIFA and CAF sent in their apologies as they were unable to make the venue to observe the process.

Another candidate for the NFF top job, Shehu Dikko, was disqualified from the election as he has not made an appearance at the venue of the election by the time it commenced.

Elections eventually began at about 3p.m. and Pinnick emerged winner with 25 votes, ahead of Taiwo Ogunjobi with nine votes, Iorfa with six votes and Amanze Uchegbulam with four votes while Mike Umeh and Abba Yola registered zero votes.

However, Ebomhe revealed afterwards that a run-off would have to take place as Pinnick had not won with the two-thirds majority or a minimum of 29 votes which ws required to be declared outright winner of the polls.

Pinnick then emerged NFF President some minutes after 4p.m. after winning the second round of elections with 32 votes ahead of Iorfa who got eight votes and Ogunjobi who has four votes in third place.

Meanwhile Seyi Akinwunmi, Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association, was voted in as the first Vice President of the NFF after polling a total of 30 votes to beat Shehu Adamu who got just eight votes and Emeka Inyama with four votes.

Ibrahim Gusau has also been elected unopposed as Chairman of Chairmen while Chris Green was re-elected as a member of the NFF executive committee representing the South-South.

Felix Anyansi-Agwu, Chairman of Enyimba FC, Aba, was also re-elected into the board.

Green defeated Oswald Atuake from Cross Rivers by 26 votes, while Anyansi-Agwu dusted three other candidates to emerge from the South East.

Others who were elected to the board included Sunday Ajayi for the South-West; Sharif Inuwa for the North-West, while Kachalla Kalli and Modibbo Hussaini emerged from the North-East zone.

In a remark on behalf of the board, Pinnick said the executive committee would run an open-door policy.

“We are going to be taking collective football decision; we will redefine and reposition Nigeria’s football.

“It is a task that saw my predecessor winning almost every laurel but we will improve on that.

“With this team, we are going to reposition the football and take it to the next level,” Pinnick said.