By Joel Ajayi
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has officially declared the elections recently conducted by the Gymnastics, Judo, and Shooting Federations as invalid, urging them to prepare for fresh elections scheduled for October 18, 2025 in Abuja.
According to the NSC, the earlier elections held by these federations were not aligned with the Ministry’s guidelines and failed to reflect the principle of inclusive representation as mandated by Nigeria’s sports governance framework.
A statement released on Wednesday by the NSC’s Director of Press, Dr. (Mrs) Kehinde Ajayi, emphasized the importance of full representation from 14 key constituencies on the board of every sports federation. These constituencies are:
Six Zonal Representatives (one from each geopolitical zone) 1 Athlete Representative, 1 Technical Representative, 1 Military/Paramilitary Representative, 1 NAWIS Representative, 1 NAPHER-SD Representative,1 Sponsor Representative and 1 AFFAN Representative
“The strength of our sports federations lies in representation. We want to make it categorically clear that none of the 14 constituencies will be excluded from the governance structure of any federation. Inclusiveness remains non-negotiable.”
The affected federations have been directed to comply with the October 18 deadline. Notably:
Gymnastics and Judo Federations are to conduct their zonal elections prior to the national polls.
The Shooting Federation, having already completed its zonal elections, will proceed directly to elect its President and Vice President on the said date.
The recent election held by the Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria (GFN) on September 6, 2025, saw Prince Kelvin Erhunwmunse re-elected for a historic third term after polling all 33 votes cast. The Vice Presidency went to Alhaji Mohammed Abba Inuwa, who received 32 votes.
While the election was commended by observers from the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) and international gymnastics bodies, the NSC was notably absent and reportedly advised the federation to postpone the election—advice that went unheeded.
The NOC’s Secretary General, Tunde Popoola, expressed both admiration for the peaceful process and surprise at the absence of the NSC, stating:
“This election was constitutionally backed and well-organized. However, I had expected the Sports Commission DG to be present. We were only informed upon arrival that he had advised postponement.”
Popoola emphasized the importance of unity and respect for the federation’s constitution, noting that as long as the constitution remains unchallenged, it stands as the guiding framework.
“At the NOC, we strongly uphold the autonomy of federations and the rule of law,” he said. “We will continue to support this federation moving forward.”
Meanwhile, the Shooting Federation’s election on September 22 ended inconclusively after six rounds of voting failed to produce a clear winner between two candidates. This stalemate prompted the NSC’s intervention and the rescheduling of elections.
The Judo Federation, which also recently held its elections, has been instructed to redo both its zonal and national elections to comply with NSC’s inclusivity guidelines.
The NSC has called for all federations to conduct their elections in full compliance with its directives to ensure transparency, fairness, and adequate representation.
The fresh elections on October 18, 2025, will be held under the strict supervision of the NSC, with stakeholders and observers expected to ensure a credible process.
