NOC ELECTIONS: TO BE OR NOT TO BE?

The Nigeria Olympic Committee elections scheduled for Thursday may hold following the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport to throw out the suit brought before it by the NOC Treasurer, Yinka Badare, challenging the eligibility of Sani Ndanusa and Aliyu Bappa-Misau for the exercise.

The NOC in a statement by its Secretary-General, Olabanji Oladapo, announced the postponement of the elections on Monday based on the advice of the International Olympic Committee, which recommended the postponement until CAS determines the case.

On Wednesday, CAS Deputy President of the Appeals Arbitration Division, Gunnar Werner, wrote the disagreeing parties saying, 'The appeal sent on August 21 by Mr. Yinka Badare to the CAS is declared inadmissible in accordance with Article R49 of the Code of Sports-related Arbitration.

'The procedure (of the suit) is terminated and deleted from CAS roll.'

Earlier on Wednesday, the IOC recommended that all interested parties respect and conform to the decision taken by the NOC in order to avoid crisis.

'It is clear the IOC would not be able to recognise any elections which would be organised outside your NOC's jurisdiction or which would not be conducted by the legitimate outgoing office-bearers,' the IOC wrote to NOC President Habu Gumel on Wednesday.

Nigeria may not welcome at the Commonwealth Games in India next month if the NOC executives are not approved by the IOC.