The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) may be forced to postpone its extraordinary congress scheduled for next week Thursday in Abuja to next month.
The AFN said in a notice of meeting sent late last night to members of the congress (state athletics chairpersons and secretaries, as well as board members) and signed by Rita Moshindi, its Secretary General, that the congress was called at the request of Tonobok Okowa, its president, to “address an important Constitutional matter.”
It was determined that the notice violated article 10.1.7 of the federation’s amended constitution of 2023.
According to the article, “an extraordinary congress of the AFN shall be convened by the President or two-thirds of the board, as the case may be, for the purpose of amending the constitution or considering any other matter.”
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“A 15-working-day notice is required.” The agenda for the extraordinary congress must be sent to the secretariats of all member countries within 15 working days.”
Athletics observers are perplexed that the AFN Secretary General claims ignorance of the federation’s constitution provisions regarding the convening of an extraordinary congress.
As things stand, the AFN cannot hold an extraordinary congress until early next month because article 10.1.7 requires three weeks’ notice.
According to reports, the AFN’s embattled leadership may have called the congress to expel its two vice presidents, Olympic gold medalist Tafida Gadzama and African Games gold medalist Rosa Collins, as well as some board members who have been critical of the federation’s lack of transparency.
