The Chairman of the Gombe State Athletics Association, Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe has taken legal action to halt all electoral proceedings of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), citing multiple constitutional violations.
In a suit filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja (Suit No: FHC/ABJ/05/940/2025), Gara names the National Sports Commission, the AFN, its outgoing president Tonobok Okowa, and Secretary General Israel Inwang as defendants.
The lawsuit seeks to nullify recent congresses and demands that the AFN strictly adhere to its 2023 constitution before any elections can take place.
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At the heart of the case is Article 10, which outlines procedures for convening congresses. Gara argues that congresses held on 14th December 2024 and 10th April 2025 in Delta and Bayelsa states, respectively, were improperly constituted, making decisions taken—such as forming an Electoral Committee—invalid. He contends that the AFN violated Article 10.1.5 by failing to notify member state associations 30 days in advance.
Gara also claims his removal from the AFN’s official WhatsApp group, allegedly ordered by Okowa, violates Article 5.5 of the AFN constitution, which prohibits discrimination and promotes inclusion. He insists his removal was due to his calls for transparency and accountability.
Furthermore, he accuses the federation of financial mismanagement, alleging that affiliation fees are being funnelled into a private account without proper oversight.
In his writ, Gara demands the suspension of all election-related activities, reinstatement to the AFN WhatsApp group, release of financial records from the past five years, and publication of the full list of state board members.
The legal challenge casts a shadow over the AFN’s electoral process and highlights deepening governance concerns in Nigerian athletics.
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