FA election: Ebonyi launches probe on ‘sit-tight’ Obinna Ogba

A Five-man committee has been set up by the Ebonyi state Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, to probe the emergence of Senator Obinna Ogba, the Senate Committee Chairman on Sports and other contestants
for the state Football Association (FA) elections scheduled for June 1, 2019

The election has been shrouded in controversy over the alleged monopolisation of the process by Ogba whom the state sports ministry’s
sources, say, has been occupying the seat for more than 10 years and his re-election ambition, causing furore in the state’s football
circles.

The ministry’s commissioner, Charlse Akpuenika, who inaugurated the committee, expressed dismay that he and other state’s sports stakeholders were not aware of the processes which led to the emergence of delegates and other activities concerning the election.

“The committee will be headed by the ministry’s new Permanent Secretary, Mr Jonathan Okoronkwo and is empowered to invite Ogba and other contestants to the next meeting of sports stakeholders in the state.

“The committee should review and brief the stakeholders, the processes used in electing delegates who will vote in the elections as none of the stakeholders is aware of the process.

He gave the committee 48 hours to complete the assignment and reconvene a meeting of the stakeholders where all the contestants and
delegates should be present.

“No one of the contestants is above the state ministry and anyone who wants to prove so will be told that no one is above the ministry and we will seek for a postponement of the election from NFF if we don’t clear all issues.

The Secretary of the state FA, Mr Desmond Ome said that the hosting of the state FA congress at the Salt Lake hotel, owned by Ogba was not to manipulate the process as he was being accused-of.

“The congress was held at the Ogba’s hotel due to security concerns but I have insisted that the election itself will be held at a neutral
venue.

He stated that he did not alter or manipulate the delegates’ list as the congress is a structure existing in the state since 2015.

“Nobody is influencing me and if the government which is my employer feels that I am the problem, it should recommend that I withdraw fromthe process.

The state Director of Sports, Mr Emmanuel Utobo, said that no information concerning the election was made available to the sports
council.

The State Sports Council Secretary, Hillary Obiesie, said the documents presented by the FA secretary over the congress and election
of delegates did not emanate from the NFF.

“The FA secretary should inform us on how the delegates and the contestants emerged because it is clear that the process was manipulated,” he said.

Ogba in his reaction, said upon return to the state, he would address the issue.

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