Fresh concerns have emerged over the Athletics Federation of Nigeria’s handling of its 2025 board election process, as several of the nomination requirements being imposed on candidates have no basis in the AFN’s federation’s constitution.
In an unconstitutional move, the AFN is requesting aspirants to swear an oath affirming they’ve read and will abide by election guidelines that do not yet exist.
The Electoral Committee, which is constitutionally empowered to draft and release these guidelines, has not done so as at the time of filing in this report.
Candidates are also expected to submit a stack of documents, including tax clearance certificates for the past three years, endorsements from senior public officials or traditional rulers and proof of past sports sponsorship — all of which critics argue fall outside the eligibility criteria stipulated in the 2023 AFN Constitution (as amended).
Stakeholders have pointed to Article 11.1 subsections 1 and 2 of the AFN Constitution, which make clear that only the Electoral Committee has the authority to oversee and set guidelines for the election process — a responsibility the AFN itself appears to be undermining.
“It is deeply troubling that the Athletics Federation of Nigeria is demanding candidates swear an oath to uphold guidelines that have not even been made public,” one of the prospective candidate running for the Coaches’ Representative on the Board of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria told our correspondent on condition of anonymity.
“This not only undermines transparency, but it violates basic principles of due process. According to the AFN Constitution, only the Electoral Committee has the legal authority to issue and supervise election guidelines. Anything done outside that structure risks being null and void.”
“By imposing these extra-constitutional requirements — like mandatory endorsements from public officers and detailed tax records — the federation is effectively narrowing the pool of potential candidates, possibly excluding credible aspirants who may not have such connections.
“It sets a dangerous precedent where the rules can be manipulated mid-process.”
“The AFN needs to immediately step back and allow the Electoral Committee to carry out its mandate independently. If this situation is not corrected, it could trigger legal challenges that would derail the entire electoral process and damage the integrity of the federation’s leadership structure.”
As the May 12 deadline for nomination form submission approaches, many are calling for the process to be reviewed and brought in line with constitutional provisions to avoid potential legal challenges and further disunity within Nigerian athletics circles.
