Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, has been elected president of the Nigeria Basketball Federation for the 2026–2030 term, promising reforms aimed at strengthening grassroots development, domestic competitions and players’ welfare.
Abdullahi secured 40 of the 48 votes cast at the federation’s elective congress in Abuja on Thursday, defeating former D’Tigers captain Olumide Oyedeji, who received eight votes. Former international Ejike Ugboaja did not record any vote.
Ugo Udezue emerged as vice-president unopposed, having been the sole candidate for the position.
The election, reported by TheCable and The Guardian, brings to an end Musa Ahmadu Kida’s eight-year leadership of the federation and ushers in a new administration expected to address longstanding challenges facing Nigerian basketball.
In his acceptance speech, Abdullahi pledged to overhaul the administration of the sport and focus on measurable improvements in its development.
“My presidency will mark a decisive departure from business as usual. We cannot keep doing things the same way and expect a different result,” he said, according to The Guardian.
He added that Nigerian basketball required stronger leadership and institutional reforms to translate its potential into tangible achievements.
“Nigerian basketball needs more than enthusiasm; it needs strategic leadership, sound administration, institutional reforms and measurable results,” Abdullahi said.
The new president outlined plans to strengthen basketball at the grassroots, improve domestic leagues, upgrade sporting facilities and invest in coaches and referees.
He also pledged to prioritise players’ welfare, expand opportunities in women’s basketball and improve the performances of the senior national teams, D’Tigers and D’Tigress, as well as the country’s youth teams.
Abdullahi said the federation would pursue partnerships with private-sector investors, corporate organisations, international basketball bodies and Nigerians in the diaspora to secure more sustainable funding for the sport.
He maintained that the new administration would be judged by its ability to turn its promises into practical results.
“Every promise we make must translate into action, and every reform must be measured by its impact on the people and institutions we serve,” he said.
He also promised to unveil a comprehensive implementation plan in the coming weeks, setting out how the administration intends to achieve its development objectives.
The election followed the withdrawal of another presidential aspirant, Igoche Mark, who pulled out of the contest on Wednesday, citing concerns over the fairness and credibility of the process.
The congress also took place against the backdrop of legal and procedural disputes. According to Blueprint, a Federal High Court in Abuja declined an application seeking to stop the election but fixed November 3, 2026, for the hearing of a substantive suit challenging the legality of an earlier extraordinary congress in Yola, Adamawa State.
The suit was reportedly filed by former D’Tigers coach Ayodele Olaseinde Bakare, who alleged that the procedures for convening the Yola congress breached the federation’s constitution. The allegations remain subject to judicial determination.
Separately, some presidential aspirants had petitioned President Bola Tinubu over alleged irregularities in the electoral process. The claims have not been established as findings of wrongdoing.
Speaking at the congress, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, urged stakeholders to put their differences aside and support the incoming leadership.
He said the election should provide an opportunity to unite the basketball community and establish a common direction for the sport’s development.
Dikko also reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to supporting basketball and creating more opportunities for young Nigerians.
Outgoing president Kida, meanwhile, expressed appreciation to stakeholders who supported the federation during his tenure and said he was leaving office with a sense of fulfilment.
He expressed confidence that the incoming board would build on the progress made under his administration.
With the new leadership in place, Abdullahi faces the task of improving domestic competitions, strengthening grassroots talent development, attracting investment and restoring confidence among stakeholders amid the disputes that preceded the election.
