By Andrew Abah, Abuja
Stakeholders in the Nigerian gymnastics community have condemned a recent media publication credited to Kelvin Erhunmwunse, President of the Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria (GFN), describing his comments against the Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, as a deliberate act of blackmail, aimed at diverting attention from his own illegitimate election and leadership failures.
According to credible sources within the sports circle, Mr. Kelvin’s recent outburst is a reactionary attempt to discredit the Sports Commission after its refusal to endorse his controversial third-term election, which has been widely condemned by stakeholders as a sham, riddled with malpractices, exclusion, and gender bias.
The flawed election, conducted under questionable circumstances, disenfranchised key constituencies including the National Association of Women in Sports (NAWIS), the Nigeria Association for Physical and Health Education, Recreation, Sports and Dance (NAPHER-SD), and the Paramilitary, thereby violating the democratic structure of the Federation.
Stakeholders lamented that the GFN President – whose administration has been marked by poor inclusivity, gender discrimination, and stagnation in athlete development, now wanted to use media blackmail to malign the NSC DG simply because the Commission refused to validate his unlawful process.
One of the Key stakeholders in the Nigeria Gymnastics family and foremost sports administrator, Omowunmi Olalere said, “it is both ironic and hypocritical for a man who conducted a kangaroo election that silenced women and constitutional representatives to accuse the Sports Commission of interference.
“This is a calculated blackmail meant to pressure the DG into legitimizing an election that has already lost credibility.”
The stakeholders further commended Hon. Bukola Olopade, describing him as a reform-driven administrator committed to transparency, equity, and global best practices in sports governance.
They stated that the DG’s insistence on credible, inclusive, and accountable elections across all federations, reflects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to restore integrity and professionalism to Nigeria’s sports sector.
The stakeholders, however called on all meaning sports-loving Nigerians including the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), and the International Gymnastics Community to stand by the NSC as it works to restore due process and fairness in Nigerian sports.
They insisted that Gymnastics in Nigeria can only thrive under transparent leadership and credible governance and not under blackmail and manipulation, and the DG’s stand for integrity must be Commended and not attacked.
