AFN may shift planned extraordinary congress over constitutional infraction
By Uzor Odigbo
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria, (AFN) may be forced to shift to next month its extraordinary congress earlier fixed to hold next week Thursday in Abuja.
In a notice of meeting sent late last night to members of the congress (state athletics chairmen and their secretaries as well as board members), and signed by Rita Moshindi, its Secretary General, the AFN says the congress, convened at the instance of Tonobok Okowa, its president is to address an important Constitutional matter.
TheNiche however gathered that the notice contravened article 10.1.7 of the federation’s 2023 amended constitution.
The article says ‘an extraordinary congress of the AFN shall be convened by the President or 2/3 of the board as the case may be for the amendments of the constitution or the consideration of any other matter.
‘Notice of 15 working days shall be given. The purpose agenda for the extraordinary congress shall be sent to the secretariat of all member states within the stipulated 15 working days’.
Athletics watchers are baffled that the AFN Secretary General is claiming ignorance of the provisions of the federation’s constitution regarding the convening of an extraordinary congress.
As it stands, the AFN can not hold any extraordinary congress until early next month as article 10.1.7 effectively provides for a three weeks notice.
TheNiche further gathered that the embattled leadership of the AFN may have convened the congress to expel its two vice presidents, Olympic gold medalist,
Tafida Gadzama and Rosa Collins, an African Games gold medal winner as well as some members of the board who have been critical of the lack of transparency in the running of the federation.
