Club chairmen dissolves Nigeria Premier League board

The problems facing the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) board took a drastic turn on Wednesday after club chairmen, rising from a meeting of all league clubs, dissolved the Victor Rumson Baribote-led board over what it termed as its inefficiency.

The meeting which had been slated for 12pm on Wednesday actually took place 12 hours earlier at midnight on Tuesday in a hotel in Abuja. The club chairmen, led by the likes of Heartland General Manager, Fan Ndubuoke, passed a vote of no confidence on the Baribote's board and constituted an interim board led by Mike Idoko to  replace Baribote’s for the next two months after which elections would be held to elect new officials.

Speaking on the move on Wednesday, Ndubuoke revealed that the decision to remove Baribote was unanimous and that all the clubs had signed the communiqué stating this resolution. He said the chairmen had the power to carry out this move according to Article 52 of the NPL statutes.

But this was only done after Articles 25 and 26, that stated that the chairman had to preside over such a meeting, had been set aside. He however, argued that what the club chairmen had done was legal and within its powers. 

He also revealed that the much awaited NPL congress would no longer hold on Thursday as earlier scheduled but on Monday, December 10, the new date chosen in the meeting.

“This is not a kangaroo decision. It was well thought of and agreed to by all the clubs. The meeting was to be held on Wednesday, but while gathering on Tuesday and considering matters, the decision was reached and all clubs have signed the communiqué to show their support for the resolutions.

“At the meeting, we passed a vote of no confidence on the Baribote board, dissolved the board and installed an interim board to replace it.

“Therefore, Baribote ceases to be NPL chairman. What is in place now is an interim board that would preside over NPL matters until a new board is elected. All that we have done is within the law. There were two lawyers with us throughout the meeting and they were consulted on every move made to ensure that we did not go outside of the law.

“The Congress earlier scheduled for Thursday will now hold on Monday because we are not going to Kano. We are all here in Abuja,” Ndubuoke said.

But NPL chairman, Baribote has said that he is unaware of the resolution of the group. According to him, the meeting was unofficial and he had not been presented with any document stating his removal. He also noted that the group could not remove him from office because it really does not have the power to do so.

“As far as I am concerned, I am not aware of the resolutions reached at the meeting. I was elected to this position and so I should be aware if I am being removed. I had no knowledge of the meeting. It was not official. It is I that can convene an official meeting. If the club chairmen are meeting, it is none of my business but they cannot remove me without my knowledge.

“As far as I know, the Congress will go ahead on Thursday as planned,” Baribote said.

Meanwhile, there are reports that former NPL board chairman, Davidson Owumi that was removed by the courts for Baribote is jubilant over the development. 
Newsblitzz gathered that he reportedly sent text messages to close associates saying the same people that organized his downfall for Baribote have planned a shameful exit for the NPL chairman.