Ibrahim Gusau, chairman of chairmen in the immediate past board anchored by Amaju Pinnick has emerged the new president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
He is the 36th person to occupy the seat since Henry Augustus Porter, the founding president of the football body on 21 August 1933.
In an election full of drama and characterised by spate of withdrawals, Gusau had 21 votes as against the 12 by Seyi Akinwunmi, six by Shehu Dikko and one each for Idah Peterside and Abba Yola. Following a spate of withdrawals only seven out of the original 11 contested.
Days ago, Amanze Uchegbulam withdrew. On the election ground, other withdrawals followed leaving only seven to contest.
The duo of Dr. Christian Emeruwa and David Buhari Doherty had no vote.
Since the lead candidate, Gusau needed one more vote to meet up with the electoral requirement, voting had to go into second ballot which was to see Seyi Akinwunmi and Dikko squaring up against Gusau.
Both withdrew and Idah Peterside who had just a vote was left to face Gusau in the rerun.
This time, it was a landslide victory. There were 41 votes. Gusau polled 39 and Peterside had a vote. One other vote was invalidated.
The new NFF boss also defeated Abba Yola, a top government official and Chief of Staff to Nigeria Minister of Youth and Sports development and Nigerian ex-international Peterside Idah.
The winner scored a total of 39 votes, after second round of voting.
Gusau has now succeeded former president Pinnick, who left the post after eight years in charge of the country’s house amidst controversies laced with many down time performance.
