Tonobok Okowa has been re-elected as President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria AFN, in what turned out to be a one-sided contest, following the withdrawal and disqualification of all other contenders.
Okowa’s emergence as the sole candidate with 42 votes and eventual winner, not only earned him a second term but also underscored the deep-rooted divisions that have come to define the federation’s leadership struggles.
In recent months, the AFN has been engulfed by bitter power tussles, factional disputes, and what insiders describe as a culture of personal ambition overriding collective interest.
Many observers lamented that instead of being a contest of ideas and vision for athletics, the build-up to the election became yet another battleground for influence and ego.
Despite the controversy, stakeholders have expressed hope that the conclusion of the election will mark a turning point for Nigerian athletics.
Former triple jumper Olu Sule urged the new board to embrace cooperation and professionalism, stating that the era of trial and error must give way to purposeful governance.
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“It’s not going to be trial by error, the new board of the AFN must put the right foot forward.
“Anybody can be president all that matters is cooperation and playing by the rules,” Sule said.
Similarly, former 400m runner Fatima Yusuf described Okowa’s re-election as an opportunity to refocus the federation’s priorities on the needs of athletes and coaches.
“It’s win for Nigerian athletics, it’s time to work for the athletes and coaches,” Yusuf stated.
In his post-election remarks, Okowa called for unity and reconciliation, emphasising the need for all factions to put aside their differences and work towards the advancement of Nigerian athletics.
He pledged to restore credibility to the federation and usher in reforms aimed at stabilising the sport.
Shortly after winning his fresh mandate, the re-elected president began assembling a new executive team, appointing trusted allies to key positions in a bid to reassert control and begin implementing his reform agenda.
The re-election also drew the attention of the National Sports Commission, whose Director-General, Bukola Olopade, described athletics as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s sporting identity and stressed the importance of transparent governance.
“Athletics is one of our major sports, and it is therefore very important to get it right with the election processes because that will be the foundation of everything that will be achieved in the next four years,” Olopade said.
He noted that the federation’s performance would directly impact the success of the Renewed Hope Sports Mandate entrusted to the Commission by the presidency.
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)
