How Ogba fell out of World Athletics Council elections shortlist
By Uzor Odigbo
Two-time past President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, (AFN), Dr. Solomon Ogba will be part of August’s election to the international federation’s governing board.
Ogba has been a consistent candidate since he became President of AFN in 2008 while Ibrahim Shehu Gusau also contested to become one of World Athletics’ four Vice Presidents in 2019 but both have not been able to succeed in making it to the board of World Athletics.
With Gusau effectively shut out of local and international athletics, Nigerian athletics observers were expecting Ogba to thrown in his hat for the umpteenth time but the former Delta State Sports Commissioner’s name was not among the 31 released as contestants by World Athletics on Thursday.
However, indications are rife that Ogba a.k.a Igwe of Sports opted out following underwhelming State of AthIetics in Nigeria in which more is expected.
We also gathered that the self açlaimed Evangelist could not muster enough support among AthIetics stakeholders comprised of ex-athletes and AthIetics Managers in the continent.
As many as six Africans have put themselves forward for elections with Athletics Kenya’s President among the eight candidates vying for four Vice President’s while Tuwei and five others are also among the 28 persons vying for 13 Individual Council Members seats.
Top on the list of Africans vying for seats on the World Athletics Council seats are Morocco’s Nawal EL Moutawakel, the 1984 Olympics 400m hurdles champion
and Uganda’s Beatrice Ayikoru who is seeking a return to the Council after her first election in 2019.
Also vying are Khaled Amara of Tunisia and James Moloi of South Africa.
The candidates for President and Vice-President will be addressing the Congress on 16 August during the candidates’ forum. Any modifications to the list of candidates will be made directly on the Elections 2023 page of the World Athletics website