Former Nigeria goalkeeper and NFF presidential aspirant, Idah Peterside has threatened to take legal action if disqualified from contesting for the Football Federation presidential election scheduled to hold on September 30.
He disclosed this in a live radio programme with Sports Salsa monitored, following the rumours that flies around stating some of the contestants might be disqualified before election day.
The NFF presidency race became quite fascinating following incumbent Amaju Pinnick, the first man to head the body for two terms’ revelation of not running for a third term.
September 30 was however announced at the annual general assembly held earlier this month, with the electoral and appeals committees set up.
About 15 aspirants contending for the position of the NFF president all obtained their forms on Monday in Abuja.
Reacting to the rumour of possible disqualification, Peterside revealed his intention to take the electoral committee to court should he be denied the right to contest.
“It wouldn’t make sense because when I played for Nigeria they did not screen me. When I playing for Nigeria they said I was a Nigerian and based on the fact that I was born here and I have a Nigerian passport that should be the qualification, except they have a crime against me or I have committed a crime that does not qualify me for the position.
“Except for those, there is no reason to disqualify me and I don’t care where I am living because that shouldn’t be the criteria, as long as I have a Nigerian passport.”
“I have looked at the statutes and we need to challenge some of them. I am not saying I am going to be disqualified because there is no reason for that. I live in Port Harcourt, I own a house there and I can work anywhere in the world, but I pay my taxes here in Nigeria, I run an academy here and I think I am qualified.
“I have been involved in football administration in Port Harcourt for 15 years, so what will be the reason for the disqualification? I don’t think we should be talking about that,” the South Africa-based aspirant concluded.
