By Harry Awurumibe
Barring last minute postponement, the much-awaited Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) 2022 Elective Congress will today hold in Benin City, Edo state capital, with 11 candidates including Dr. Christian Emeruwa jostling for the post of the President of the federation for the next four years.
Uncertainties have trailed the 2022 Elective Congress with several litigants and defendants running to the courts of the land to either stop the election or to vacate the injunction and go ahead with the Congress to elect the new President of NFF and Executive Committee members.
However, with the Appeal Court ruling in Abuja on Thursday, September 29, the Elective Congress in Benin City may be a reality as the stage is set for the 11 presidential candidates including the frontrunner Dr. Emeruwa to test their popularity on the turf.
The Founder/Head of Safety and Security Department of Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) in Cairo, Egypt, has been the most visible of all the contestants as he has been on the campaign trails for the past one month holding strategic meetings with critical stakeholders in football in Nigeria from across six geopolitical zone to sell his plans to create a viable football economy that will benefit stakeholders if voted into the office today in Benin City.
Dr. Emeruwa, a former Head of Integrity Unit of NFF and Special Assistant to two former General Secretaries of NFF as well as Personal Assistant to one General Secretary, had also held a strategic meetings with the Presidency; Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Chief Sunday Dare and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of TotalEnergies Nigeria Plc, Dr. Samba Seye in Lagos to get his organisation buy into his strategic plans to create a viable football economy that will benefit stakeholders if voted into the office.
The astute football administrator also reached out to the leadership of football professional bodies like Nigerian Referees Association, Nigeria Football Coaches Association and Players Union to mention just a few to support his new vision for football in Nigeria.
With 44 votes up for grabs, Dr. Emeruwa is expected to make an impressive showing by getting the votes of those State Football Association Chairmen who applauded his presentations when he met with them on zonal basis.
The die is cast.