The world basketball governing body, FIBA, has directed the Nigeria Basketball Federation to conduct board elections by October 15.

This followed concerns raised by some stakeholders and former board members of NBBF over the expiration of the tenure of the Musa Kida-led board.

They argued that its tenure expired on January 31, in line with its constitution, and petitioned FIBA for guidance to safeguard constitutional order and avoid allegations of external interference.

In a letter signed by secretary-general Andreas Zagklis, FIBA said it received petitions from stakeholders on governance issues and election timelines within the federation.

FIBA noted that it had been monitoring governance challenges in NBBF since 2017, especially recurring disputes that often intensify during election periods.

The organisation recalled that past crises led to Nigeria’s withdrawal from the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup and sanctions imposed on the federation.

The body said it intervened to restore stability, culminating in the normalisation of the federation’s situation in October 2022.

FIBA stated that the current NBBF board’s tenure remains valid until Oct. 15, 2026, when new elections must be concluded.

It added that elections should be held after the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, scheduled to end on September 13, 2026.

The new board is expected to assume office no later than October 16, 2026, in line with the outlined transition timeline.

FIBA stressed that elections must be conducted under the existing NBBF statutes, noting that amendments will not be recognised until the process is completed.

It added that the process must comply fully with its general statutes and internal regulations to ensure transparency and credibility.

FIBA said the directive aims to prevent a recurrence of past crises that disrupted basketball development in Nigeria.

The development is expected to attract attention from stakeholders as the federation prepares for a crucial election cycle.

(NAN)