JOEL AJAYI

The chairperson and members of the 2021 FCT Football Coaches Association Electoral Committee has resigned just few days to the forthcoming association’s election.

The three-man Electoral Committee members tendered their resignation over alleged interference or imposition that will not enable them to perform their duties effectively and efficiently.

The Committee include, Bar. (Dr) Victoria Nlemigbo Esq, Coach Gidado Usman (CAF A license) and Coach Mba Chukwubike.

While speaking to Journalists on Monday in Abuja, the Chairperson of the Committee, Bar. (Dr) Victoria Nlemigbo Esq said, imposition of draconian law from the association which is against the rules and regulation was the reason for their resignation. 

According to her, an election supposed to be a platform for all qualified members of the association to express themselves in either participating as a contestant or voter.

“And every association has specified detail or conditions for those people who want to participate as either electorate or contestant.

“And such preparation have to be guided by provision of constitution, so for you to prepare electoral guidelines that is not drawn from the provision of constitution concerning election then, you are on your own, and we were being forced to import draconic electoral guidelines that is not reflecting the position of the constitution.

“And we went ahead to advise them on what to do base on the provision of the constitution and they refuse to accept it and for that reason we have our own integrity, we have spirit ensuring justice, equity and fairness and to ensure the right of the member of the association are well protected, we feel that since what the constitution said is not been respected and accepted we can’t be part of such election and for that reason, we have decided to withdraw our service and resign from the position.” She said.

However, the below are the attached of the resignation letter and others relevant information regards the forthcoming election.

NOTICE OF RESIGNATION OF THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE ELECTORAL COMMITTE OF THE NFCA FCT CHAPTER ELECTIONS 2021.

You may recall that on the 6th of March, 2021, a three man Electoral Committee was inaugurated by the General Assembly of the FCT Football Coaches Association for the purpose of organizing and executing the proposed election of Officers to replace the outgoing executives.

You may also recall that on the same day, immediately at the end of the general meeting,  another meeting commenced made up of some elders, area council leaders and Secretaries purported as the Congress of the FCT Football Coaches Association.  This meeting was claimed to be for the presentation of the Electoral Guidelines from the Exco to the Chairman of the Electoral Committee.  This was supposed to and should have been the presentation of a copy of the constitution to enable the Electoral Committee produce a sound, Constitutional and balanced Electoral Guidelines.

With praise, honour, gratitude and humility to God Almighty and great appreciation and respect for all the members of the NFCA FCT chapter, especially  those who share the same ideology and principles with me and my Committee members on the way forward for this great association by insisting on the Supremacy of the Constitution of the association.

Our decision to step down is  premised on the fact that we cannot place something on nothing and expect it to stand,  as all great or prosperous organizations and associations acquire their status primarily from and by adhering to the laws, rules and regulations governing them else they decapitate and disappear.

You may also recall that on the 19^th of March, 2021, the Electoral Committee, in exercising its right, published the Electoral guidelines to inform the interested parties of the current position.

This did not go down well with the Exco of our deal Association as they found that the Electoral Guideline is in conformity with the constitutional provision on elections.

They reacted by openly threatening to dissolve the committee. They followed this up by summary as for a meeting with the National Executive Committee on the 25^th of March, 2021, where at the end of almost 3 hours of meeting, they were advised to give the electoral committee all the necessary documents and all the committee to carry out its mandate. We waited for the documents and nothing was given to us and we did not have any additional information that could inform any change in our position. This did not happen, but instead, on the 1^st of April, 2021 we got this message from the outgoing chairman

(ATTACHMENT 1)

“Barrister Victoria Nlemigbo,

Chairman, FCT Football Coaches Association Electoral Committee 2021.

RE: ELECTION GUIDELINES

You would recall that the Intervention meeting between the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association (NFCA), the FCT Football Coaches Association Congress, some senior members of the Association and FCT Electoral Committee held on Thursday, 25/3/2021 and arrived at the decision that the Electoral Committee reviews the Electoral Guidelines and hand same over to the Executive Committee of the Association/Congress for perusal and ratification.

Today being Thursday, 1st April, 2021, the Electoral Committee is yet to return the reviewed Guidelines. Please, note that you were given the documents you requested for on the day of the meeting. There has not been any formal communication or correspondence from your Committee. In view of the fact that the date of the election is fast approaching,

you are therefore DIRECTED to submit within 24 HOURS with effect from 8am, 1/4/2021 the reviewed Electoral Guidelines or else the Congress might invoke its powers to decide on the next line of action.

This is for your compliance.

Signed:

Godwin Bamigboye

Chairman, FCT Football Coaches Association.

1/4/2021.

cc.

President, Nigeria Football Coaches Association (NFCA)”.

As a response to Attachment 1 above, we forwarded the Electoral Guideline with Attachment 2 (see below)

(ATTACHMENT 2)

“Coach Godwin Bamigboye

Chairman,

FCT Football Coaches Association

RE: ELECTION GUIDELINES

I must thank you for considering me and my team worthy to handle this arduous task and responsibility of ushering in the next worthy officers if the Association.  This on its own is evident of the fact that you trust and believe that we are capable of doing a good job.  That is what we want to do.  We won’t let you down.

I am in receipt of and hereby acknowledge the soft copy of your letter on the above subject matter.

Everything stated above is true.  We have not been able to communicate with you because we were expecting to hear from you based on the outcome of the meeting you quoted above.  Be that as it may, my team and I have been working to fulfil our own part of the responsibility and mandate, while we were hoping to hear from you.

We apologise for not taking up the initiative.

Kindly find attached to you email, a soft copy of the guideline for your perusal and further directives.

I will like to also inform you that, in order for us to execute this mandate effectively and in line with the Constitution, we shall be requiring the following items among others:

1. Record of attendance of members

2. Record of the financial status of members.

Kindly be assured of our warmest regards.

Kindly confirm and acknowledge once seen.

From Dr. (Mrs.) Victoria Nlemigbo Esq.

Chairman, Electoral Committee.

cc.

President, Nigeria Football Coaches Association (NFCA).

As a follow up to the above letter, on the 5^th of April, 2021, we sent him this letter (Attachment 3) as a reminder that we were still waiting for his response.

(ATTACHMENT 3)

“Coach Godwin Bamigboye,

The Chairman,

NFCA, FCT Chapter.

Dear Sir, 

RE: ELECTION GUIDELINES

The above is in reference please.

In response to your demand order of 1st April, 2021, we immediately replied by sending you a soft copy of the Electoral Guidelines which was delivered to your space by 08.09 am on the same 1st of April.

Today is 5th of April 2021 and we are yet to hear from you.

We are aware that the time is very short and each day that passes makes it even more difficult to get the preparations and readiness almost impossible.

Please be informed that we are eagerly awaiting your response.

Thank you so much.

Please be assured of our warmest regards.

Yours in Sports

Dr. Victoria Nlemigbo

For. The Electoral Committee.

cc:

National President

Coach Obu”.

In his response to the above, he sent us this (Attachment 4)

(ATTACHMENT 4)

“The FCT Congress will be meeting on 10th April, 2021 to peruse and ratify the Electoral Guidelines. We will communicate you appropriately.

Thank you.

Godwin Bamigboye.

Chairman, FCT Football Coaches Association”.

Sequel to the above stated developments and bruhaha generated by the disagreement relating to the election and the Electoral Guidelines, my outfit, The Legal Advocacy for the Advancement of Football held a virtual meeting on the 6th of April 2021 and resolved that the matter in contention bothering on the constitutional position of the electoral process of the FCT Football Coaches Association should be determined by a Law Court of competent jurisdiction in the land as should naturally be the case.  However,   as one who has been a member and part of this great association for a reasonable length of time, and in my utmost desire to prevent dragging the NFCA to court and embarrassment and disrepute, I and my Electoral Committee colleagues decided to withdraw our services in order to preserve and protect the name, sanctity and integrity of the association.

Summary of Grounds upon which this decision has been taken are as follows:

1. Upholding the supremacy of the NFCA FCT Constitution.
2. Preventing the NFCA from being dragged to and embarrassed in court.
3. Maintaining the integrity and credibility of the members of the Electoral Committee.
4. Upholding the rule of law, and identifying with fairness, transparency and equity.
5. Establishing the necessary lessons that no single individual or group individuals are bigger than or above the constitution and the association.

We the members of the Electoral Committee are united in our resolve and position and hereby resign and withdraw our services from the Electoral Committee as we are not interested to be dragged into unconstitutional activities.

To further buttress the main crop of this whole bruhaha, please find attached the following documents and do make effort to go through them.

1. The purported Electoral Guidelines prepared by the Executive Committee of the FCT Coaches association which were being forced on the Electoral Committee.
2. The section of the Constitution focusing on Election of Officers and all the related conditions.
3. The Electoral Guidelines prepared by the Electoral Committee as it should be.

Please be your own judge.

Thank you.

Yours Sincerely

Dr. (Mrs.) Victoria Nlemigbo Esq

Chairman Electoral Committee