President of FIBA Africa Zone 3, Col. Sam Ahmedu (Rtd.), has raised fresh concerns over the Nigeria Basketball Federation’s forthcoming election, revealing that some members of the current NBBF board have been left in the dark over preparations for the elective congress.
Ahmedu says that despite a clear directive from basketball’s world governing body, FIBA, requiring elections to be completed by October 15, 2026, he and some other board members have received no information regarding when the electoral process will begin or the modalities that will govern it.
His comments come at a crucial moment for Nigerian basketball, with the clock now ticking towards a deadline established by FIBA earlier this year.
“We don’t even know when the preparations will start,” Ahmedu said, expressing concern over the lack of communication surrounding the process.
According to the experienced basketball administrator, the problem goes beyond the upcoming election.
Ahmedu alleged that some elected members of the federation’s board, including himself, have effectively been sidelined from the day-to-day administration of the NBBF and consequently have little knowledge of decisions being taken within the federation.
He maintained that no information concerning the organisation, timetable or modalities of the forthcoming elective congress has been communicated to them.
The uncertainty is particularly striking because FIBA has already provided Nigeria with a defined transition window.
In a letter dated March 16, FIBA recognised the current board headed by Musa Kida until October 15, 2026. It directed that elections should take place after the conclusion of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup on September 13 and no later than October 15, with the newly elected board beginning its mandate on October 16.
With the Women’s World Cup now concluded, attention has immediately shifted towards the election.
However, recent reports indicate that the NBBF has yet to publicly announce an electoral committee, comprehensive timetable, nomination process, screening procedure, congress date or venue.
That lack of clarity has heightened fears of another administrative dispute in Nigerian basketball.
Ahmedu has previously been among the strongest critics of the federation’s governance. Earlier this year, he and other stakeholders argued that the board’s constitutional four-year tenure had actually expired on January 31, 2026, exactly four years after its election and swearing-in in Benin City.
FIBA subsequently intervened and recognised the board until October 15, effectively establishing a transition period and a firm deadline for fresh elections. The international body also ruled that the forthcoming election must be conducted under the existing NBBF statutes rather than proposed amendments.
The issue now is whether the federation can complete the required electoral procedures within the remaining time.
Recent concerns are not limited to Ahmedu. Reports this month have similarly questioned the absence of a publicly communicated roadmap, particularly with the deadline rapidly approaching.
For Ahmedu, however, the situation is even more troubling because people elected to serve on the board themselves allegedly do not know what is happening.
That raises questions not only about when Nigerians will elect the next basketball administration, but also about who is currently planning the election and how stakeholders will be incorporated into the process.
With FIBA expecting a new board to assume office on October 16, time is running short.
The world governing body has provided the deadline, but Ahmedu’s revelation leaves Nigerian basketball facing a more alarming question: with barely a month remaining, if even NBBF board members do not know the election plan, who does?
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