The Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Hulayat Ayo Omidiran, has stressed the need for stronger institutional partnerships to promote inclusiveness, equity and transparency in governance, noting that football remains a vital tool for national unity.

Omidiran made the remarks on Thursday, February 5, when she received the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on a courtesy visit to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

Welcoming the delegation, Omidiran reaffirmed the FCC’s constitutional mandate to monitor and supervise public institutions nationwide, insisting that sports administration must also reflect federal character principles.

“The Federal Character Commission supervises and monitors over 700 Ministries, Departments and Agencies across the country. Institutions connected to sports administration are not exempt from the principles of equity, fairness and national balance,” she said, in the presence of Hon. Halima Ahmadu Jabiru, FCC Commissioner representing Nasarawa State.

She added that collaboration between the FCC and the NFF would help deepen transparency and inclusiveness in both governance and sports administration.

“Our collaboration with the Nigeria Football Federation will advance our vision of ensuring that opportunities in governance and sports are inclusive, transparent and representative of Nigeria’s diversity. We will also leverage the unifying power of football to bring Nigerians closer together,” Omidiran said.

A former chairman of the Nigeria Women Football League and proprietor of Omidiran Babes, she noted that closer engagement between regulatory bodies and sports institutions was essential for accountability, fairness in appointments and balanced national representation.

Earlier, NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau congratulated Omidiran on her appointment, describing her as a pioneer in women’s football administration in Nigeria.

“We are here to congratulate Hon. Omidiran on her new appointment and to pay a solidarity visit to her as a long-time, high-ranking member of the Nigerian football family,” Gusau said.

He added that the NFF recognised the FCC’s role in promoting fairness and unity across the country.

“The Nigeria Football Federation recognises the critical role of the Federal Character Commission in promoting fairness and national unity. We look forward to strengthening collaboration that supports balanced development within our football structures,” Gusau said.

The NFF delegation included First Vice President Felix Anyansi-Agwu, board member and NLO chairman Silas Agara, Secretary General Dr Sanusi Mohammed, Director of Competitions Ms Ruth David, Director of Finance and Administration Rajan Zaka, alongside other officials and staff of the federation.

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By Kunle Solaja.

Kun Khalifat FC’s dramatic withdrawal from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) is more than a club-versus-league dispute. It is the latest flashpoint in a long-running struggle over governance, sanctions, and the sustainability of privately owned clubs in Nigerian domestic football.

The club’s decision to quit the league, citing what it described as “outrageous and disproportionate” punishment for failing to honour a single fixture, has exposed fault lines that the NPFL has repeatedly tried, and failed, to seal.

The closest to the current scenario goes back 39 years, in 1987, when all non-government clubs, except the Iwuanyanwu Nationale (now Heartland), pulled out of the then Division 1 of the National League owing to poor league governance, which also occasioned extremely poor return on investment.

October 13, 1987: Twelve non-government football club owners, operating as the Association of Proprietors of Football Clubs in Nigeria (APFN), met at MKO Abiola’s Ikeja residence, Lagos, and formally informed the Sports Minister of their decision to withdraw from funding football at the end of the year.

The late Bashorun MKO Abiola championed the meeting, which Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu attended, but opted out of the implementation ostensibly as his club would be a major beneficiary in the pulling out by both Leventis United of Ibadan as league champions, and Abiola Babes as cup holders.

Sanctions vs Sustainability

Back to the current season, at the heart of the crisis is the NPFL’s disciplinary culture. The forfeiture of three points and three goals, coupled with a ₦10 million fine, may be defensible under league regulations, but Kun Khalifat FC’s reaction underscores a growing sentiment among club owners that enforcement is often rigid, punitive and disconnected from the harsh economic realities of Nigerian football.

Clubs routinely battle logistical nightmares: poor travel infrastructure, inconsistent funding, security challenges and late subventions. In this context, sanctions, especially financial ones, are increasingly seen not as corrective tools but as existential threats.

Kun Khalifat FC’s statement reflects this frustration, accusing the NPFL of prioritising punishment and revenue over development and club welfare. Whether that accusation is fair or not, it resonates within a league where several clubs survive month-to-month. Non-government-run clubs are the worst hit.

Immediate League Consequences

From a regulatory standpoint, the club’s withdrawal places the Nigeria Premier Football League in a difficult position.

If the exit is upheld, the NPFL is likely to:

• * Expel the club from the current season
• * Impose additional penalties for withdrawal
• * Decide whether to expunge Kun Khalifat FC’s results or award walkover victories for both played and unplayed matches

Either option risks distorting the competitive integrity of the league, affecting relegation battles, title races and continental qualification places.

More damaging, however, is the precedent. A mid-season withdrawal by a privately funded club sends a troubling signal to potential investors already wary of Nigerian football’s volatility.

Governance and Trust Deficit

Beyond the table and fixtures, the bigger issue is trust. Kun Khalifat FC alleges bias, lack of transparency and disregard for clubs’ explanations, claims the NPFL has yet to publicly address. Silence from the league risks reinforcing perceptions of an unresponsive and authoritarian structure.

This is where the Nigeria Football Federation may be forced to intervene. Historically, similar crises have required federation-level mediation to prevent reputational damage and restore order.

Without dialogue, the situation could escalate into legal disputes, appeals or arbitration battles—none of which serve the league’s credibility.

A Test Case for Reform

The club’s call for collective action, urging others to demand reforms and accountability, may be rhetorical, but it highlights a long-simmering tension between league administrators and club owners.

The NPFL has made strides in branding, broadcast partnerships and scheduling stability in recent seasons. Yet governance reforms around sanctions, dispute resolution and club welfare have lagged.

This episode could become a defining test:

• Will the league double down on strict enforcement?
• Or will it recalibrate, introducing flexibility and clearer engagement mechanisms?

What Happens Next

If Kun Khalifat FC maintains its stance, it risks long-term exclusion from top-flight football and the loss of the sporting momentum it has invested heavily to build. But the NPFL, too, stands to lose credibility, investor confidence, and yet another opportunity to present itself as a stable, professional league.

Ultimately, this is not just about one missed fixture. It is about whether Nigerian domestic football can balance discipline with empathy, and regulation with reality.

How the NPFL responds in the coming days may determine whether this episode becomes a footnote—or another chapter in the league’s recurring governance crises.

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Nigerian football premier league side, Kun Khalifat FC, which is one of the few privately run teams in the country’s elite division has announced its immediate withdrawal from the top division League, citing what it described as unfair and disproportionate sanctions imposed on the club by league authorities.

In a strongly worded press statement issued on Tuesday, the club’s owner, Kun Khalifat, expressed disappointment and frustration over penalties handed down for failing to honour a single league fixture.

According to the statement, the sanctions included the forfeiture of three points and three goals, as well as a fine of ₦10 million.

The club said it had provided what it considered valid reasons for its inability to fulfil the fixture, but claimed these explanations were rejected by the league.

“This punishment is not only unacceptable but a clear indication that the league’s management is more interested in penalising clubs than fostering growth and development,” the statement read.

Kun Khalifat FC accused the Nigeria Professional Football League of bias and a lack of transparency in its decision-making process, arguing that the ruling showed little regard for the operational and financial challenges faced by clubs across the country.

The club also stated that it had consistently sought to comply with league regulations and had invested heavily in team development and infrastructure, but felt those efforts were being undermined.

“As a club, we have always strived to comply with the league’s rules and regulations and have made significant investments in our team and infrastructure,” the statement added. “It is disheartening to see our efforts undermined by an organisation that seems to prioritise punishment over fairness and justice.”

Describing the decision as unavoidable, the club said it could no longer remain part of a system that, in its view, places revenue above development and the welfare of its member clubs.

Kun Khalifat FC further called on other clubs to demand reforms and greater accountability within the NPFL, insisting that Nigerian football must move forward in a more transparent and development-driven direction.

The club thanked its fans, players and stakeholders for their support, while indicating it would explore alternative platforms to showcase its talents and continue representing Nigerian football.

“We are done with the NPFL,” the statement concluded. The club is currently at the bottom of the table.

As of the time of filing this report, the NPFL had yet to issue an official response to the club’s withdrawal announcement.

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