In a response to recent allegations, the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) has denounced petitions submitted to the National Sports Commission (NSC) against the Federation’s constitution ahead of the forthcoming board elections in 2025.
The petitions, reportedly lodged by Engr. Emeka Onyeama, chairman of the FCT Cricket Association, and an individual identified as Pakribo Darego – who claims to represent the Bayelsa Cricket Association – have been categorised by the NCF as unfounded and frivolous.
NCF, in a statement signed by its public relations officer, Musa Ehizoje Bodie, pointed out several discrepancies in the petitions. Despite claims that four states – Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi, and Bayelsa – had submitted objections to the NCF, the Federation clarified that only the FCT Cricket Association’s petition and an unsupported document from Daregoe were received by the NSC.
The statement added that the official chairmen of the Enugu, Imo, and Bayelsa State Cricket Associations have publicly rejected any association with these petitions, which the NCF views as an indication of the petitioners’ desperation.
The NCF addressed the key issues raised in the petitions, noting that the constitution was first presented to the General Assembly on 18th December 2021 in Abuja. It was subsequently reviewed and adopted, with compliance to governance structures mandated by the International Cricket Council (ICC). In 2022, the approved constitution was communicated to relevant regulatory bodies, and by their own assurances, received no objections.
In the 2024 Annual General Meeting, representatives from the NSC confirmed receipt of the constitution, recommending minor corrections for precise referencing—a suggestion that has been duly incorporated by the NCF.
It was also highlighted that Engr. Onyeama and Darego had not attended any of the NCF’s Annual General Meetings over the past four years, where discussions regarding the constitution took place without their dissent.
In addressing the role of cricket within the Olympic framework, the NCF underscored that the sport is not limited to fully recognised members, emphasising the ongoing uncertainty regarding qualification processes communicated by the ICC. The NCF asserted that it is not a member of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, countering claims made by the petitioners.
The NCF has described Darego as a “propagandist” whose narratives are frequently disregarded within cricketing circles, further asserting that such submissions only serve as distractions from the progression of the sport.
In conclusion, the NCF has urged members of the media, the public, and the cricket community to dismiss the petitions, reiterating that the Federation’s constitution is designed to ensure fair elections and maintain the integrity of cricket in Nigeria.
