Fresh crisis in AFN as ‘anointed’ candidate turns against ministry

Although widely believed to be favoured by the Ministry of Sports in his leadership tussle with Engineer Ibrahim Shehu Gusau, factional president of the Athletics Federation, Hon. Olamide George appears to have parted ways with the ministry as he has accused it of interfering in the internal democratic mechanism of the federation.

Reacting to an election guideline released by a staff of the Ministry, Adisa Beyioku, George, an outgoing Vice President of the AFN described the announcement as an attempt to hijack the electoral process in favour of their preferred candidate.

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George’s accusation against the ministry is no doubt coming as a surprise to many because he has all along been hand in gloves with the Sunday Dare-led sports ministry.

In a release signed and dated Thursday, June 10, George condemned the continued interference in affairs of the AFN by people he called intruders within the government.

George insisted that the 2017 constitution as agreed upon at a recent meeting between the AFN leadership, the Confederation of African Athletics and the World Athletics should be respected.

“It is very disturbing and sickening that we are having different directives from two quarters that are against the 2017 Constitution.

“The process is against the resolution reached with World Athletics and CAA. The above is against the law and it shall not stand. The genuine Congress men are already programmed to be disallowed from their orchestrated plans”.

George, therefore, threatened to pull out of the ‘unconstitutional electoral process’ until the right and constitutional path is followed.

“We hereby pull away from the ongoing unconstitutional process until equity, justice and fair play prevails in compliance with the 2017 constitution”, George said.

Meanwhile, Engineer Gusau who is working with the controversial 2017 amended constitution of the AFN has assured that the elections slated for Monday, June 14 in Kebbi will be free and fair.