Nigeria Football Federation Election : From 84.1% TO 68.5% — Did The Reform Really Change Who Chooses the NFF President ?
The electorate has expanded. But has the balance of power really changed? By Paul Lucky Okoku Before Nigerians debate who should become the next President of the Nigeria Football Federation,
Before Nigerians debate who should become the next President of the Nigeria Football Federation, it is crucial to question who actually chooses the NFF President. In the past, 37 of the 44 votes were held by the 36 State Football Associations and the Federal Capital Territory, representing 84.1% of the electorate. This concentrated voting power has been a subject of criticism for years.
The reform that took place on March 23, 2026, aimed to broaden participation and redistribute electoral power. The new NFF Congress now has 108 delegates, bringing additional representation from clubs, leagues, women's football, players, coaches, referees, and other parts of the football family. However, the reform's impact on the voting power distribution is noteworthy.
While the concentration of power has reduced from 84.1% to 68.5%, the State Football Associations and the Federal Capital Territory still hold 37 votes, while all other constituencies together hold only 17 votes. This means that a majority of the 54-vote electorate requires only 28 votes, which can be achieved by a majority of State FA/FCT votes aligning behind a single candidate.
The reform's significance lies in expanding the electorate and redistributing electoral power, but it does not guarantee a more balanced representation of interests in Nigerian football.
Written by urgent.news from This Day's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
