The Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Supporters Club at the weekend ratified the election of Rev. Samuel Ikpea as the chairman of the body. The BOTalso dissociated itself from “anybody or persons claiming to be officials of the body except those elected during their national polls in Lagos on December 20, 2016.

Addressing journalists at the Supporters Club national headquarters in Lagos, the BOT led by Dr. Rauf Oladipo, said the ratification of the leadership of the club was necessary to assure “our partners that we are one big family with a defined leadership structure ready to promote and help develop Nigerian sport.”

Other members of the BOT also present  at the event are Elder Isaac Ukpebor, Mrs. Dora Dadugobo-Coker, Alhaji Ayuba Idris, Mr. Lateef Jinadu, Mr. John Akpoguma, Chief Sunday Adepoju and Alhaji Ahmed Sharif. Oladipo disclosed that the polls which held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium was attended by 250 delegates from across the country and 200 other people from the states and national body. “Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, fwo former general secretaries of the NFF, Taiwo Ogunjobi and Bolaji Ojo-Oba, as well as former FIFA/CAF executive committee member, Dr. Amos Adamu, were also present during the elections.”

•Ikpea

Oladipo disclosed that all the accredited delegates participated in the polls conducted by 11 out of the 12 electoral committee members ratified by the NFF.

He revealed that the polls that brought in Rev. Ikpea was the first time the Supporters Club would be electing their officials in four years “owing to a court order which barred us from holding elections until a case instituted by some people was discharged.

“We decided to begin the process of elevating our officers in August when that order was lifted.”

He added: “We call on all Nigerians to come together to develop and promote the country’s sports, adding, however, that “nobody, corporate or group, should recognise any other person other than the ones ratified by the Supporters Club leadership.”

Also speaking at the event, the new chairman of the body, Rev. Ikpea, pledged to uphold the tenets of his office, just as he called for support from every lover of Nigerian sport.

He added: “I want to call on the NFF President, Amaju Pinick, to play a fatherly role to the club. ‘’We are disturbed that he is hobnobbing with some people, who claim to be officials of our club. He knows the truth and we expect him to abide by the truth.

“If Pinnick cannot support the Supporters Club, which has been in existence for over 61 years, he should not try to destroy it. All the past NF presidents worked harmoniously with the Supporters Club. This is not a tribal fraternity… we are detribalised.

“I want to make it clear that the Supporters Club was not formed by the NFF. It was a club formed and registered by private Nigerians, but over the years we have worked harmoniously with the NFF in the interest of our football.”