President, Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Ibrahim Gusau, has refused to accept dismissal as the Chairman of Zamfara State Athletics Association.

The Zamfara State Directorate of Sports Development had on Monday, via a statement announced Gusau’s removal. The statement was signed by the state Director of Sports, Isikaya Shameel, who announced that Gusau was removed as the Zamfara athletics boss after “extensive deliberations” by the management and stakeholders of the association adding that Jamilu Gusau had been appointed as the new chairman of the state’s athletics body.

Note that the AFN has been in crisis after the federation, at a congress chaired by Gusau, declared autonomy from the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development December last year. Also, another section of the body led by Gusau’s vice, Olamide George, subsequently suspended Gusau and later impeached him, appointing George as the new AFN president.

Gusau' removal as the AFN president was declared by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on July 1, but the sports ministry appealed the judgement at the Court of Appeal.

 Gusau while speaking to newsmen in reaction yesterday said he was duly elected into office, adding that those behind his dismissal “don’t have an understanding of how things work.” He said:

“The chairmanship position is not by appointment, but through election. So, how can somebody say I have been removed and somebody else appointed? Normally, we are elected, not appointed.”

“I’ve been quiet because this issue is in court, but sports federation’s chairmen are not appointed. I contested in an election and won. I think they don’t have an understanding of how things work. There is a case in court, so, I will wait for the court.”