How Senator Obinna Ogba Lost The NFF Election In Edo

 

Akinkunle Bolarinwa 

For the first time ever a Nigerian Senator has failed to win the popular vote. It’s a landmark for democracy considering the power of a sitting Senator by then, but where did it all go wrong for Senator Obinna Ogba?

For his role in the last NFF elective Congress Senator Ogba has earned for himself the dubious distinction of being the first serving Senator in Nigerian history to lose an NFF election. 

In many ways, Senator Ogba was the architect of his own downfall. He made critical mistakes that turned the public and allies against him, and led them to gravitate towards the opposition before and during the NFF election. 

Right from the day he picked up the form to contest for the post of the 1st vice president of the Nigeria Football Federation, Senator Ogba was the crowd favourite as many potential candidates seeking for the position of the President of the NFF favoured him to be their vice and he was almost coasting home until he got too ambitious and decided to play pranks on those who trusted him and that marked the beginning of his down fall.

It was alleged that Senator Obinna Ogba courted so many candidates and promised each of them of his support, only to betray all.

During the process of the election, Senator Ogba didn't campaign nor spend any amount to canvas for his election rather he rode on the interest and mandates of others. 

Many of the candidates supported him financially hoping to get a vote in return but on the day of the election after his failure to deliver his promises, he was seen fuming when he lost scandalously from a winning position.

A popular former chieftain of the NFF from the North West was alleged to have sent his men after the senator to refund the financial gratification he received from him before the election but the troubled man disappeared immediately after he was disgraced from the polls.

Being the leader of the South East caucus he was accused of misleading members from his zone to aim for money because they thought they held the key to the election. 

His actions did cost the South East zone a seat on the board of the NFF because his defeat has thrown the equation out of balance. 

Senator Obinna Ogba has gone into oblivion since losing both the NFF and his Ebonyi State gubernatorial ambition.