Intimidation, political interference may ar Lagos FA elections, says stakeholders

The 2023 Lagos State Football Association Elections have been thrown into jeopardy after an alleged Government interference from the Lagos State Sports Commission.

Some top officials and delegates of the Lagos State FA on Sunday noted that the top hierarchy of the Lagos State Sports Commission has been meddling in the coming FA Elections by trying to impose and post secretaries into the various divisions, a plan that is being allegedly muddled up by the same body.

It was also alleged that the Lagos State Sports Commission has also put in plans to forcefully engage delegates to vote for the former Secretary of the APC in the State, Fouad Oki as Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association. Fouad Oki, is a well-known alien when it comes to Football related matters.

“This is a very wrong move from the Lagos State Sports Commission”. One of the top Football Stakeholders in Lagos said.

“This interference is a bad omen to the development of Football in Lagos State and it won’t hold sway at all.

“It is a known fact that FIFA, the world governing body opposes political interference in Football related matters and this one isn’t any different from what happened in Malaysia and other countries, where FIFA suspended FA Elections due to political interference.

“We totally condemn this interference by the leadership of the Sports Commission in Lagos State and ask them to stop all plans of imposing an unpopular candidate who has had no dealings nor administered football over the years through an illegal means, to run the affairs of Football in the state.

“We equally call on the Executive Governor of the State, His Excellency Babajide Sanwoolu, who is surely not aware of these plans, to quickly help call these acts to order, as he is known to be a man of honour and integrity. We deserve a free and fair elections and that’s what we are calling for. Football should be an independent entity and no interference from Government should be entertained.” He concluded.

The final screening of candidates for the main Lagos Football Association Elections holds on Monday, May 15, 2023 at the secretariat of the FA, at 149 Ogunlana Drive, Surulere, Lagos, starting from 9am.

The 2023 Lagos State Football Association Elections has been thrown into jeopardy after an alleged Government interference from the Lagos State Sports Commission.

Some top officials and delegates of the Lagos State FA on Sunday noted that the top hierarchy of the Lagos State Sports Commission have been meddling in the coming FA Elections by trying to impose and post secretaries into the various divisions, a plan that is being allegedly muddled up by the same body.

It was also alleged that the Lagos State Sports Commission has also put in plans to forcefully engage delegates to vote for the former Secretary of the APC in the State, Fouad Oki as Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association. Fouad Oki, who is a well known alien, when it comes to Football related matters.

“This is a very wrong move from the Lagos State Sports Commission”. One of the top Football Stakeholders in Lagos said.

“This interference is a bad omen to the development of Football in Lagos State and it won’t hold sway at all.

“It is a known fact that FIFA, the world governing body opposes political interference in Football related matters and this one isn’t any different from what happened in Malaysia and other countries, where FIFA suspended FA Elections due to political interference.

“We totally condemn this interference by the leadership of the Sports Commission in Lagos State and ask them to stop all plans of imposing an unpopular candidate who has had no dealings nor administered football over the years through an illegal means, to run the affairs of Football in the state.

“We equally call on the Executive Governor of the State, His Excellency Babajide Sanwoolu, who is surely not aware of these plans, to quickly help call these acts to order, as he is known to be a man of honour and integrity. We deserve a free and fair elections and that’s what we are calling for. Football should be an independent entity and no interference from Government should be entertained.” He concluded.

The final screening of candidates for the main Lagos Football Association Elections holds on Monday, May 15, 2023 at the secretariat of the FA, at 149 Ogunlana Drive, Surulere, Lagos, starting from 9am.