Bayelsa Cricket Association (BCA) has submitted a petition to the National Sports Commission (NSC), alleging a calculated attempt to manipulate the forthcoming Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) board elections in favour of certain individuals, thereby disenfranchising genuine stakeholders and aspirants from participating in the electoral process.
The petition, signed by BCA chairman Pakribo Telema-Daregoe, was addressed to Malam Shehu Dikko, the chairman of the National Sports Commission. A copy of the petition, referenced as BCA/BYSSC/CON/RT/001, was also sent to Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio and the president of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Habu Gumel.
The Bayelsa Cricket Association expressed its indignation over the adoption of an illegal constitution by the Uyi Akpata-led board of the Nigeria Cricket Federation for the upcoming board elections.
The association stated that the NCF is an affiliate of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the National Sports Commission (NSC). It emphasised that the NSC is responsible for developing sports policies and overseeing sports federations, as well as for the supervision, regulation, control, coordination, and promotion of sports at all levels, both locally and internationally, including the Nigeria Cricket Federation.
BCA further asserted that elections for all sports federations have historically been conducted by the NSC in accordance with its established guidelines, rules, and regulations.
“The International Cricket Council (ICC) does not interfere in the internal administration of the game in its member countries. The Nigeria Cricket Federation is an affiliate of the ICC and the NSC, which is vested with the power to develop sports policies and oversee sports federations,” the petition noted.
“It is crucial to highlight the underhand tactics being employed by the current president of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, Mr Uyi Akpata, in his unilateral decision to present a doctored constitution as the basis for the forthcoming NCF board elections. This spurious document has failed all requisite tests of due constitutionality, transparency, probity, and acceptability by critical stakeholders within the Nigeria Cricket community.”
The petition continued, “In July/August 2021, the Edo State Cricket Association, through Mr Uyi Akpata, petitioned the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) to prevent President Yahaya Ukwenya, the then president of the NCF, from using the same constitution that Mr Akpata is now attempting to impose for the forthcoming elections. The constitution that was rejected in 2021 has suddenly become a prerequisite for the electoral process in 2025.”
BCA appealed to the NSC chairman to utilise his position to halt the unilateral adoption of this constitution and ensure fairness for all, emphasising that the core value of cricket is respect for one another.
“Sir, what is central to the spirit of cricket is respect for one another, a principle held in high esteem. This principle has kept the cricket community as a united entity in our dealings, both on and off the pitch. I urge you to use your good office to stop this overreaching ambition of one man who has climbed to the top over the bruised and battered backs of gullible and vulnerable supporters at his disposal.”
Reliable sources within the NCF board have indicated that the federation’s board elections are scheduled to take place on September 21, 2025, in Abuja. The source, who opposes the use of the contentious constitution for the board elections, urged the NSC to adhere to its guidelines previously released for the conduct of the NCF elections, stressing that cricket is not an Olympic sport and therefore the NCF cannot conduct its board elections outside the NSC’s guidelines.
