President of the National Association of Nigerian Footballers (NANF) Harrison Jalla has condemned the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) executive committee's decision to annul the May 2010 Nigeria Premier League (NPL) chairmanship elections which brought in Davidson Owumi as chairman.
In his reaction to Wednesday's NFF decision, Jalla told SuperSport.com that the annulment is faulty and unacceptable to the footballers' body.
"It is a big joke, sad development and unacceptable. NFF does not have the power to do that, NPL is an entity, it has its own congress and board and if those organs feel dissatisfied with the election they can go ahead to remove Owumi and not the NFF executive committee."
The president of the footballers' union who gave hint of possible court challenge to the decision explained that the NFF board headed by Alhaji Aminu Maigari that sat over the decision is still an illegal body. "We will challenge the decision, Owumi is duly elected and the first ex- Nigerian international to be elected as chairman of NPL.
"No, NFF board cannot remove him, Maigari board is illegal, its legality is in question," he said.
NFF executive board on Wednesday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state after its annual general assembly upheld the decision of Prof Akin Ibidapo-Obe arbitration panel voiding Owumi's election as NPL chairman and ordering a fresh poll within 14 day in accordance with the league body's statutes.
This equally ended the bitter challenge mounted by the former Bayelsa United boss Rumson Victor Baribote for its invalidation.
Jalla faults Owumi's sack (http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/football-golf-boxing/23344.html)