In a leadership change with echoes from the sporting arena, the Federal Character Commission (FCC) on Tuesday witnessed a smooth baton exchange as former Acting Chairman, Kayode Oladele, handed over to the newly appointed Executive Chairman, Ayo Hulayat Omidiran, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

Much like a seasoned captain stepping into a new contest, Omidiran arrives with a background rooted in sports administration, having previously served as a member of the Nigeria Football Association and, most recently, as head of its Women’s Football Committee. Her formal assumption of office follows her swearing-in by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu last Thursday.

Oladele, who had held the acting role since July 2, 2025, took charge after the exit of the substantive Executive Chairman, Muheeba Farida Dankaka, and guided the Commission through nearly seven months of transition and consolidation.

In her acceptance remarks, Omidiran expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve and commended Oladele for his steady leadership during the period.

“I accept this responsibility with a profound sense of honour and commitment. I sincerely appreciate Kayode Oladele for his dedication, stability and efforts in steering the Commission over the past almost seven months,” she said.

She noted that Oladele’s stewardship ensured continuity and institutional balance within the Commission, praising the cooperation and professionalism that marked the handover process.

Assuring commissioners and management of inclusive leadership, Omidiran reaffirmed her commitment to transparency, fairness and national cohesion in the discharge of the Commission’s constitutional mandate.

“I look forward to working closely with all commissioners and the management team to strengthen the Commission and effectively deliver on our constitutional mandate,” said Omidiran, who represented Ayedaade/Irewole/Isokan Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019.

Following the ceremony, the new Executive Chairman formally submitted the handover documents to the FCC Verification Committee for review and documentation. She also announced the constitution of several statutory and ad hoc committees aimed at strengthening internal processes and improving the overall effectiveness of the Commission.

The event was attended by the Secretary of the Commission, Mohammed Musa, state commissioners, key stakeholders and members of the media.

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The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been plunged into mourning following the tragic death of Sunday Ndidi, father of Super Eagles captain, Wilfred Ndidi.

Sunday Ndidi reportedly lost his life in a fatal automobile accident after being hit by a car in Umunede, near Agbor, Delta State, a development that has sent shockwaves through the Nigerian football family.

Reacting to the heartbreaking news, NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, expressed deep shock and sorrow, describing the loss as painful and difficult to comprehend.

“This is very sad,” Sanusi said. “The player just gave his very best to the nation at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco where we finished with the bronze medals. He had returned to Turkey with great motivation and high hopes of helping his club to win silverware this season, and also help the Super Eagles reach new heights this year.

“We are really shocked at the moment and cannot say much, but we earnestly pray for the repose of the soul of Sunday Ndidi and pray that the Almighty God will comfort our team captain, his siblings, relations and indeed all those he has left behind.”

Wilfred Ndidi, one of Nigeria’s most consistent and respected midfielders, has been a pillar of strength for the Super Eagles in recent years, leading by example both on and off the pitch. His commitment during the recent AFCON campaign, despite the demands of club football abroad, earned him widespread admiration.

The NFF, on behalf of the Nigerian football community, extended its heartfelt condolences to the Ndidi family, assuring the Super Eagles captain of its prayers and support during this period of grief.

As messages of sympathy continue to pour in from teammates, fans and football stakeholders, the nation stands united with Wilfred Ndidi and his family, sharing in their pain and praying for comfort and strength in this difficult moment.

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Kunle Soname, chairman of Remo Stars FC, on Wednesday raised the alarm over what he described as a deep-rooted crisis in match officiating in Nigeria, calling for an urgent and total overhaul of the Referees’ Appointment Committee to restore credibility to Nigerian domestic football.

Addressing a press conference, Soname said he was speaking not merely as a club owner but as a stakeholder concerned about the future and integrity of the game in the country.

He lamented that no Nigerian referee has been selected for the Africa Cup of Nations in the last 17 years, attributing the drought to compromised standards in the domestic league.

According to him, poor officiating—often appearing “fraudulent or grossly incompetent”—has systematically eroded the credibility required for Nigerian referees to earn international appointments.

He stressed that the problem goes beyond isolated mistakes and represents a dangerous pattern threatening the integrity of the Nigeria Premier Football League.

Soname presented video evidence of at least five recent incidents that underline the severity of the problem.

Among them, he cited two clear penalties denied to Remo Stars in a single match, a blatant foul ignored against his team that directly resulted in an opposition goal, and a wrongly disallowed legitimate goal scored by Rangers International against Rivers United, which he noted to show that the crisis is league-wide and not club-specific.

There was also a foul against a Shooting Stars defender before an attacking player of Barau went on to score a goal.

“These are not 50–50 calls,” Soname said. “They are blatant errors captured on video—decisions that directly change match outcomes and contradict all available evidence.”

He revealed that he had sent the video clips to the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and that the chairperson of the Referee Appointment Committee, Faith Irabor.

The video clips have also been analysed by match officials in Europe, and the conclusion was the same – the referees in question all erred.

He placed responsibility for oversight on the Referees’ Appointment Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, accusing the body of enabling the crisis by failing to sanction poor performances and by offering implausible justifications for obvious errors.

As an example, Soname referenced a controversial decision involving Insurance FC of Benin, where a clear foul leading to a goal went unpunished.

According to Soname, the committee, chaired by Mrs Faith Irabor, issued a baffling justification, stating, “The attacker was in a hot chase… It is not tripping, and no other offence was committed.” This demands scrutiny, especially given that Mrs Irabor was previously a Director in the Edo State Sports Commission, and the officiating team for that match was changed just two days prior.

He questioned the committee’s defence of the decision and raised concerns about transparency after changes were reportedly made to the officiating team just days before the match.

Soname argued that citing issues such as the absence of pre-season seminars to excuse incorrect decisions amounted to an admission of systemic failure rather than a valid defence.

He called on the NFF, NPFL management and the Referees’ Committee to urgently review the cited incidents, enforce accountability and rebuild confidence in the league. More critically, he insisted that the Referees’ Appointment Committee must be comprehensively restructured.

“Football thrives on fairness,” Soname said. “Our players deserve fairness, our fans deserve honesty, and our league deserves integrity. Nigerian football deserves better.”

He concluded by inviting questions from the media, signalling his readiness to pursue the matter in the interest of reforming Nigerian football.

Video clips of some matches where officiating raises grave concern

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