5.2.2026
Nigeria’s basketball administration continues on the path of uncertainty as members of the sit-tight board led by Musa Kida are making moves to counter a petition written by stakeholders on the state of federation to the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).
The petition, signed by 34 of the 50 statutory members of the NBBF Congress, protested the refusal of the outgoing NBBF Board to convene a Congress for the election of a new board despite the expiration of its tenure.
However, emerging developments now point to what insiders describe as a coordinated attempt to discredit the petition and weaken its credibility before FIBA and the Nigerian sporting public.
Multiple sources allege that some signatories are being pressured to retract their signatures by claiming they signed under duress or lacked proper authorization from their respective state associations.
The move, observers say, is aimed at portraying the petition as fraudulent and unrepresentative.
One of the most controversial developments is the case of Imo State, where Mr. Kelechi Anosike issued a public notice dissociating the Imo State Basketball Association from the petition.
The notice claims that the individual who signed on behalf of the state lacked the authority to do so.
However, investigations reveal a more complex and troubling picture.
Checks indicate that Mr. Anosike is closely aligned with a member of the outgoing NBBF Board, raising concerns that his action is part of a broader strategy to undermine the legitimacy of the Congress petition.
A member of the Imo State Basketball Association, speaking angrily on the issue, dismissed Anosike’s claims outright.
“Kelechi Anosike should not be taken seriously That man is something else,” the official said. “The Congress letter was signed on behalf of Imo State with proper authorization from the right authority.
“Our state basketball association has been dissolved, and we are awaiting the appointment of a new chairman and board. Is Anosike bigger than the authority that approved the signing?”
The official further alleged that overwhelming support exists across Imo State and the South-East for the conduct of NBBF elections, with Abia State cited as the lone exception.
“Everybody wants the elections to hold, but Kelechi Anosike is standing alone, supporting the Kida-led NBBF Board that has refused to conduct elections even after completing its second term,” the source added.
Further findings confirm that the Imo State Basketball Association was dissolved several months ago, and under established procedure, Directors of State Sports Councils or Chairmen of Sports Commissions are empowered to nominate representatives for all NBBF matters including Congress decisions.
This revelation directly challenges the basis of Anosike’s dissociation notice and strengthens the argument that the Imo State signature on the petition was both procedurally valid and properly authorized.
As the standoff deepens, stakeholders warn that any attempt to suppress Congress authority or manipulate internal democratic processes could plunge Nigerian basketball into deeper crisis, while placing the country on a collision course with FIBA statutes.
With pressure mounting and scrutiny intensifying, all eyes are now on FIBA and whether it will see through what critics describe as a desperate last-ditch effort to cling to power at the expense of transparency and the rule of law in Nigerian basketball.