TheCable

Sunday Dare, minister for youths and sports development, has pledged that there would be a level playing ground for all contestants at the upcoming elections into the National Sports Federations (NSF) boards.

The minister, who had dissolved boards of all federations in June, gave the assurance in a statement on Monday.

In the statement, Dare said he hopes for the absence of “bitter agitations that will hurt our sports this time”.

He also said that there would be no imposition of candidates, adding that the ministry would be monitoring the elections alongside the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) who “would have credible persons on board to ensure all processes are transparent, free and fair.”

‘We hope there would not be bitter agitations that will hurt our sports this time,” the minister was quoted as saying.

“We agree that it is in the nature of politics to have complaints, disagreements and those who will feel that they did not get a fair bargain and so would resort to litigation. However, we do not want that kind of winner takes all politics in our sports.

“I hope we will not have cases that will cripple and hurt our sports as we had with some federations in the past.

“We have no vested interests, and we are not imposing candidates on any federation. We will be observers alongside the Nigeria Olympic Committee. The electoral and appeals committees have credible persons on board to ensure all processes are transparent, free and fair.

“We have to trust the process and have a bigger interest in sports in our hearts. All the processes for redress for those who may feel aggrieved have been spelt out. I believe if they are followed, we will have sports federations elections we will all be proud of.”

The elections are billed to hold on September 30.