Gara-Gombe Urges Gumel to Step Aside for NOC Election

Alhaji Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe, founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Athletics and Other Sports Development Commission, called on Engineer Habu Gumel, President of the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC), to relinquish his position to younger, credible candidates in preparation for the NOC election scheduled for 2026. Gara-Gombe identified potential successors, including Wahid Enitan Oshodi of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, Musa Nimrod of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, and Victor Okorie, citing their credibility and experience.

He questioned Gumel's prolonged tenure, which began in 2001, and criticized the lack of improvement in the NOC's fortunes. Gara-Gombe demanded transparency regarding financial reports from the NOC, particularly concerning funds from international bodies like the IOC and ANOCA, and expressed concerns about the NOC's independence, given its continued occupation of Federal Government offices.

He concluded that the NOC requires credible leadership to restore accountability and professionalism to Nigeria's Olympic movement.