NPFL fixtures disruptions loom as political campaigns kick off – Daily Trust

Every cycle of the election period always ushers in a wave of threats to already over-stretched sports facilities in Nigeria, leading to fixture disruptions in the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL).

The ongoing 2026/2027 NPFL season, which commenced last month, has already witnessed its own share of fixture adjustments due to the scourge of political rallies as two matches had to be rescheduled.

The matches already rescheduled due to political activities at the home grounds of the clubs are Sporting Lagos FC vs Ikorodu City, and Ranchers Bees vs Abia Warriors.

 

Sporting Lagos FC vs Ikorodu City

The much-anticipated Lagos derby between Sporting Lagos FC versus Ikorodu City, initially scheduled to be held on Sunday, September 6, at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan Stadium, was postponed by two days to the match, leaving sour tastes in the mouths of football enthusiasts.

The announcement of the postponement paled the excitement in the build-up to the match into disappointment, raising concerns over the state government’s interest in sports, particularly football.

It also generated huge conversations on ‘X’ as fans compared the country’s league to the English Premier League, as they were unanimous that in England no political activity could disrupt a match between Arsenal and Chelsea in North London.

Weekend Trust Sports also observed that the postponement of the match disrupted not only the league football calendar but other value chains in the ecosystem.

Sporting Lagos FC is renowned for its aesthetic design during home match day create an ambience to give a quality match day experience to their fans. The postponement of the match left vendors paid for services stranded, tickets bought waiting to be reused, and the hope of selling merchandise dashed.

Hotels booked were forced to opt for alternative measures, and the heightened excitement of fans for the match was punctured.

The highly anticipated match at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Arena was shifted to September 30.

 

Ranchers vs Abia Warriors

While the dust of the postponement of Sporting Lagos vs Ikorodu City was yet to settle, the fixture between Ranchers vs Abia Warriors, initially scheduled to be held Sunday, September 6, was postponed due to the political event held the same day at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, Katsina.

Ranchers Bees have adopted the stadium in Katsina due to the ongoing renovation work on their home ground in Kaduna.

The Muhammadu Dikko Stadium was occupied for the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement / Tinubu-Shettima 2027 state structure inauguration, backed by Katsina Governor Dikko Umaru Radda. This large political mobilization event forced the league organisers to move the match to Monday, September 7.

Ranchers Bees who had suffered a 3-1 defeat at Ikorodu City in the opening match of the season bounced back with a 4-0 thrashing of Abia Warriors.

The scheduling conflict sparked a major conversation among Nigerian football fans on social media platforms like ‘X’, criticizing how stadium management routinely prioritizes political events over domestic league fixtures.

More postponements imminent due to political rallies

Activities for the 2027 general elections are gradually intensifying as politicians seeking political office have started campaigns.

The wave of political rallies derailing the country’s football activities may not abate owing to the ownership structure and availability of match venues.

In the current NPFL season, 13 clubs are owned by the state governments while 7 are privately owned. The ownership structure of the clubs plays a big role in determining the smooth prosecution of the matches.

It is unfortunate that most of the clubs in the league use sporting facilities owned by the state governments for their matches, limiting their chances of having full control over the stadiums.

Most of the stadiums in the country are built by the federal and state governments, making it possible for top politicians like the President and Governors to have unhindered access to them.

Therefore, even as the stadiums are built for sporting activities, political campaigns are given priority attention whenever there is a clash of interest.

This scenario played out last season as the NPFL week 26 fixture between Barau FC and Kun Khalifat was rescheduled because the Sani Abacha Stadium Kano, the home ground of Barau FC, was to serve as the ground for the decamping ceremony for the Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, who was defecting from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In Lagos, the three NPFL clubs- Inter Lagos FC, Sporting Lagos FC, and Ikorodu City depend on a single venue, Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, for their home matches.

Also, Sani Abacha Stadium, MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, and Enyimba Stadium host more than one NPFL club, mounting more pressure on the overstretched facilities that will have to cope with upcoming political events in their respective states.

The situation has brought to the fore the need for clubs to own their stadiums. However, if former NPFL champions Remo Stars were still in the Nigerian topflight, they would have been spared the challenge because Remo Stars is the only private club in Nigeria with a standard stadium.

The use of stadiums for political activities will continue unless there are structural reforms, strict regulations and alternative venues available for clubs to use.

In Lagos, two other stadiums, Agege Township Stadium and Teslim Balogun Stadium, are undergoing renovation. It is imperative for the completion of the renovation at a time when the cloud of political rallies is brewing.

NPFL unperturbed about the dire situation

When Weekend Trust Sports contacted the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the NPFL, Dr Ayo Abdulraham, he maintained that the situation is under control.

He said since the league cannot operate in isolation, management has already established protocols to handle political clashes.

According to him, political rallies must take place, and the NPFL will also do its best to ensure that whenever there is a clash of interest, the affected matches are rescheduled accordingly.

“We are aware of the situation, but there is nothing to panic about. This is not a new challenge, and we are ready to deal with it.

“Whenever we have such a situation on our hands, we would reschedule the matches. The league cannot stop because political campaigns are taking place,” he said.

Dr Ayo also said if clubs strive to own their stadiums, the problem of fixtures rescheduling or disruptions would become a thing of the past.

He said as long as clubs depend fully on government-owned stadiums, the problem will persist.

“Why we try our best to keep the matches going, the clubs too should give priority to building their own stadiums.

“The only club with its own stadium, Remo Stars, is no longer in the NPFL. If they were in the league, surely they wouldn’t have anything to do with fixture disruptions due to political activities.

“So, the NPFL is on top of the situation. There is nothing more to say than to assure Nigerians that we shall handle the situation as we always do,” said the COO of the NPFL.