AFN internal war intensifies with “Gusau removed” as Zonal Rep on Board

Athletics Federation of Nigeria president, Ibrahim Shehu-Gusua has been recalled as the zonal representative of the North West Athletics zone on the board of the AFN.

This was contained in a communiqué issued Friday by North West Athletics Association at the end of its meeting held in Kaduna. The gathering in Kaduna, we understand was set up for the Covid-19 Awareness and Sentisation Lecture organised for all Directors of Sports and Chairmen of all sports associations in the seven states that comprised the zone.

Gusau himself and his media team were yet to respond to the statement from the Kaduna meeting as of the time of reporting. The Federal Ministry of Sports under which the AFN operates has also not made any statement on the communiqué.

It is alleged that the Association passed a vote of no confidence on Gusau whom they elected over three years ago to be its representative on the board of AFN.

The Association, it was stated, elected Jamilu Aliyu, Zannan Gusau, Kachallan Hausa and District Head of Karal. The same man it was explained replaced Gusau as Zamfara State Athletics Chairman as the zone’s new representative on the board of the AFN.

A spokesperson for the meeting said Gusau’s recall was endorsed by the zone’s Council of Sports (directors of sports and chairmen of all sports associations in the zone).

If this Kaduna decision is followed to the letter, it would mean Gusau ceases to be a member of the AFN board. Article 8.1.5 of the federation’s 2017 constitution states that not more than one elected member from any of the six zones recognised by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigerian shall be on the board of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria.

Gusau has an ongoing court case instituted against the board of the AFN and the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development also ceases to be the president of the AFN.