Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) Chairman Justice Abdulfatai Afolabi Adeyinka (rtd) has condemned last Monday’s invasion of the commission’s headquarters by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Chairman, who was addressing a press conference at the commission’s office in Yaba yesterday, said the invasion was a dangerous dimension in the emerging democracy in Nigeria.

"The PDP came to the commission in large number yesterday (Monday) with fully armed Mobile policemen and thugs, apparently to cause mayhem, crisis and confusion to the on-going validation exercise."

Justice Adeyinka also refuted PDP’s allegation that LASIEC rejected its candidates for screening on Monday as reported by a national daily yesterday.

"LASIEC wishes to state that the allegation is baseless, unfounded and spurious as their candidates were not slated for screening yesterday as per the time-table of the commission for the validation exercise and they were duly informed," Justice Adeyinka said.

He also wondered why the PDP was harassing the commission when it has instituted an action against the electoral body in court.

The PDP, the chairman said, collected forms for both the 20 local governments areas and 37 local council development areas (LCDAs), but returned only the ones for the 20 local governments and the party was told in writing that it must return the other forms for the 37 LCDAs whether completed or not before the commission could accept the other forms.

Political parties, he said, can contest election in any number of Local governments or LCDAs of their choice as it is not compulsory that they must field candidates in all the local councils, but they must however return the number of forms collected from the commission whether completed or not.

The LASIEC boss, however, assured all that the preparations for the Saturday 11the October local council polls were going on peacefully.

He said 31political parties, including the PDP, collected the LASIEC nomination forms, while 28 of them indicated their intention to participate in the 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs.

"Twenty-five political parties have so far returned their nomination forms and their list of candidates who are undergoing screening by Validation Committee of the commission."

The register of voters’ is to be displayed in all the local councils. "Eligible voters who registered with INEC during the last Voters’ registration should seize this opportunity by going to check their names where they registered," Justice Adeyinka said. The exercise will be on for 14 days.

Enyimba International Football Club of Aba will flag off its 2008/2009 Premier League campaign this Thursday with a home game against Akwa United.

Enyimba, five time league champions finished fifth on the table last season and are hoping to go all the way this time.

Akwa United lost its first league match against Lobi Stars by Two goals to One, in an away match.

The team also lost its home league to Rangers International by a lone goal.

Enyimba, a team now through to the semi final of the CAF Champions League will want to win the match to launct itself back into reckoning in the National Premier League.

Akwa United is now placed eighteenth on the league table while Enyimba International is yet to record a point due to Continental assignment.

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NFF Retains Joseph Ladipo.

Embattled Super Falcons head coach, Joseph Ladipo, has been mandated to replace aging legs in the Super Falcons team.

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF decided not to sack Lad but told him to get new players for the team as they prepare for the Africa Women Championships in Equatorial Guinea next month.

A member of the NFF Technical Committee, Emmanuel Ikpeme said they eventually passed a vote of confidence on the coach.

He explained that it was the resolution at the Federation that it will be unreasonable to sack Lad at this time.
Ikpeme, said the Federation is still meeting on crucial matters affecting the national teams, but nothing is being said about removing the Falcons coach.

He added that the Federation could still sack the former shooting stars handler, if they consider it necessary to relieve him of his job.


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Rivers State Inaugurate Committee To Attract Spectators.

The Rivers State Commissioner for Sports, Boma Iyaye, has inaugurated an 8-man committee to attract spectatorship to the stadia.

The move is aimed at ensuring that the State's Stadium is always fill o brim during league season.

While,inaugurating the committee in his office yesterday, Iyaye charged the members to look at the immediate and remote causes of empty stands during league matches in the stadia.

The state sports boss averred that sports, especially, football is supposed to serve as an avenue for recreation and wondered why people are not taking advantage of the matches to get rejuvenated for healthy living.

He charged members of the committee to see their call as a means of contributing their quota to the service of the state.

He noted that they were chosen bases on competence and experience to initiate modalities for mobilization, re-kindle the spirit of mass match attendance.

They are also expected to educate football fans and supporters on the need for a proactive support for Sharks, Dolphins and Rivers Angels Football Clubs of Port Harcourt and and to implement the initiatives for mobilization.

In his response, the chairman of the Mobilisation Committee,Sirawoo thanked the Rivers State Commissioner for Sports for the opportunity given the members to be of service to the state.

Sirawoo said that the committee would be dispassionate in its consultations in finding a workable solution to the problems.

Other members of the committee are: Ibiba Dakoru ,Chief Okey Kpalukwu
Dickson Iwarimie ,Joe Johnson ,David Peterside ,Otis Asonye, Sepribo Nimifaa.
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A.I.T To Support WAFU Under Twenty Tourney.
The Management of Africa Independent Television, A.I.T, has indicated its interest to acquire the official broadcast rights for the West African Football Union, W.A.F.U, Under-20 championship,which holds in Nigeria between November 30 through December 14.

Chairman of PAMODZI Sports Marketers, official marketers of WAFU, Mike Itemuagbor confirmed that the chairman of DAAR Communications, Raymond Dokpesi, has held preliminary talks with his organization in this respect.

Itemuagbor, said the broadcast station is competent enough to give the tournament a hitch free coverage that would be enjoyed by th entire continent and other part of the world.

AIT, recently acquired the rights for all matches involving Nigeria’s national teams and are presently in the process of floating a sport cable station.

Twelve West African countries have so far signified their interest to take part in the two weeks soccer extravaganza.
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NFF Condoles Yinka Craig family

The Nigeria Football Federation,NFF, has condoled the family of former ace broadcaster Yinka Craig, who succumbed to renal troubles the same day.

The news flashed through the media that the late broadcaster, one of the shining lights of sports journalism in the 1980s and 1990s, had passed on.

Its Secretary General, Bolaji Ojo- Oba, the ace broadcaster was one of the best brains in sports journalism in his days, stressing that he worked closely with him when he was special assistant to a Sports Ministers.

Ojo- Oba,said Craig used the special talent given to him by God to further the cause of sports development in the country, adding that he was a wonderful person, an engaging personality who knew his onions.

Yinka Craig, who worked with the Nigeria Television Authority for many years, died in the United States of America.
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NFF Throws Gate Open for Flying Eagles/Sudan Match

The Nigeria Football Federation has thrown open the gates for Saturday’s African Youth Championship qualifying match between the Flying Eagles and their counterparts from Sudan.

NFF General Secretary, Bolaji Ojo-Oba said the move was a present to Nigerians for the double celebration of the country’s 48th Independence Anniversary and the Eid-el-Fitri – the end of the Moslems’ Ramadan month.

The Flying Eagles take on their counterparts from Sudan at the National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday, in the first leg, final qualifying fixture for the African Youth Championship, which will be staged in Rwanda, between January 18 and first of February next year.

Already, all the foreign –based players invited by Head Coach Isah Ladan Bosso have arrived at the Ibro Hotel camp of the Nigeria side, which reached the Final of last year’s competition held in Congo Brazzaville.

The team's Chief Coach, Ladan Bosso, who led the Flying Eagles to the quarter –finals of the last competition in Canada, said his priority was to qualify for the African Youth Championship which is a prerequisite for the FIFA Under Twenty World Cupilled for Egypt.

Meanwhile, the Ivorien officials for Saturday’s match are billed to arrive Lagos on Thursday evening.
But there has been no word from the Sudanese team on its arrival programme.

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I Didn’t Attack Senate – Uchegbulam

The first Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amanze Uchegbulam, has said he never attacked the institution of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in an interview published last week by a national sports daily.

Uchegbulam, who claimed that he never disparaged the institution of the Senate, said the Federation have utmost regard for the institution of the Senate and for the Distinguished Members

The Federation's First Vice President, said never attacked the institution but his statement was aimed at expressing his disappointment with the characterization of the NFF President by the Chairman of the Senate Sports Committee during the presentation of its Public Hearing on Sports.

Uchegbulam, said it was unfair for the Chairman of Senate Committee on Sports to describe the Federation's President, Sanni Lulu, a timid man, adding that the Sanni Lulu, might have his faults but there is no man in the world who is infallible.

He Said the Federation's President rose through the ranks in the civil service to become a Director and he is a highly qualified and nationally –recognized quantity surveyor .

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Rabiu promises Good Outing Against Sudan.

Former Golden Eaglets star,Rabiu Ibrahim and Kennedy Eriba have promised to be at their best when the Flying Eagles engage Sudan in the Under-20 African Youth Championship first leg qualifying match billed for the National Stadium, in Abuja on Saturday

Coach Ladan Bosso is banking on the foreign-based players, including Rabiu and Eriba to pick a convincing victory and make the return leg a mere formality.

Rabiu, who scored a brace in Sporting SAD’s 5-0 defeat of Athletic in their Portuguese league clash, last Saturday, said he was battle-ready for the game.

The skillful player, said the team is aware of the need to win conviningly in a bid to make the return leg an easy task.

He believed that the team is well prepared for the match, stressing that his club's officials have promised to be in Abuja to watch the match , hence he could not afford to fail to perform against Sudan.

While speaking, Eriba was confident that the Flying Eagles would be victorious on Saturday.

He said African Football has really improved and there are no minnows these days,thus the team must not underrate Sudan.

Eriba added that he and his colleagues based abroad would not be affected by the Abuja weather, saying they would overcome all obstacles to seal victory.

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