Chinedum Treasure
A die-hard Nigeria football supporter, Babatunde Solomon, popularly known as “John Terry,” has raised serious questions over the continued existence of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Nigerian football supporters’ movement.
He alleged that the committee has overstayed the mandate contained in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that established it.
Solomon, in a strongly worded submission, said his concerns were based on his reading of the MOU signed on February 13, 2025, by six supporters’ bodies.
He questioned why public communications surrounding the IMC have consistently referred to five presidents, despite the document reportedly having six signatories, and called for clarification on the status of the sixth signatory.
According to him, Sections 2.1 and 3.1 of the MOU provide that the IMC was established for a period of one year from the date of signing, while Section 3.2 reportedly states that the tenure shall neither be renewed nor extended.
Solomon therefore argued that the tenure should have ended on February 13, 2026, and expressed concern that the committee allegedly continued operating beyond that date.
He also questioned the timing of the electoral process, citing provisions of the MOU which, according to him, set deadlines for the Constitution Drafting Committee and the establishment of an Electoral Committee ahead of the expiration of the IMC’s tenure.
Solomon said the failure to meet those timelines has raised questions about the credibility and transparency of the process now being pursued.
Another major concern raised by the football supporter was Section 4.3 of the MOU, which he quoted as stating that any individual who participates in the IMC would not be eligible to contest in the general elections.
He argued that the provision was designed to prevent members of an interim administration from using their positions to influence or benefit from the electoral process they were entrusted to organise.
Solomon maintained that his intervention was not motivated by personal interest but by concern for the integrity of Nigerian football supporters’ representation.
He called on the relevant authorities and stakeholders to clarify the status of the IMC, explain the alleged delay in the electoral process and account for the implementation of the MOU before proceeding with any election.
He further urged the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the supporters’ bodies to ensure that the next leadership process is transparent, credible and acceptable to the wider football-supporters community.
According to him, the supporters deserve an administration built on accountability rather than prolonged disputes and uncertainty.
Solomon said Nigerian football has suffered enough from administrative challenges and that the supporters’ movement should not become another source of controversy.
He stressed that the credibility of any forthcoming election would depend largely on how the outstanding questions surrounding the IMC’s tenure, the MOU and the electoral process are addressed.
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