From Bola Ogunlayi, Ibadan
Former Nigerian national team handball captain George Adeyemi, also known as Osawe, has alleged unfair dealings and external interference, which threaten the outcome of the September 27,2025 zonal election at the Obafemi Awolowo stadium, Ibadan.
Osawe alleged that the forthcoming Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) elections, particularly the Southwest Zonal Representative election scheduled for Saturday, 27th September 2025, are already shrouded in controversy.
He stated that constitutional violations, lack of transparency, and external interference are threatening the credibility of the process and casting doubt on the future of handball in Nigeria noting that at the center of the storm is Hon. Olugbenga Ayinde Adewusi, popularly known as Arole, a former chairman of the Oyo State Sports Council.
Osawe alleged further that Arole has been occupying an office at the Lekan Salami Stadium Adamasingba illegally under the guise that Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde will soon confirm him as chairman of the Oyo State Sports Commission.
He revealed that Arole has been attempting to wield political influence over electorates, using his connections with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Deputy Governor of Osun State, Prince Kola Adewusi (who also doubles as Commissioner for Sports) to manipulate outcomes in the zone.
Osawe stated that coaches and athletes in Oyo State have reportedly been threatened by political thugs, raising fears of intimidation and voter suppression, adding that under scrutiny is Arole’s eligibility.
He revealed that according to the National Sports Commission (NSC) guidelines for Zonal Representatives into the boards of National Sports Federations, candidates must:
Have at least 3 years’ experience in sports administration, coaching, or officiating at a national or regional level.
Demonstrate leadership roles in sports within their zone or nationally.
Have organized zonal championships with verifiable sponsorship and be a bona fide member of their state’s handball association apart from showing
a track record of contributions to sports development, including youth programs, competitions, or infrastructure.
On all these counts, he argued that Arole falls short as he has never played handball at a professional or national festival level, never coached or officiated at national/regional competitions, and has not sponsored or organized championships in Oyo or beyond.
“In fact, his strained relationship with the Oyo State Handball Association has led to the suspension of its constitution at a time, due to his alleged excesses “ Osawe posited.
The former international said that there are concerns over his financial capacity and genuine commitment to the growth of the sport in the region stressing that that clearing a candidate without proven capacity, background, or grassroots contribution will not only damage the integrity of the elections but also stunt the growth of handball in the Southwest.
He therefore urged the National Sports Commission and the HFN leadership to take urgent corrective action pointing out that allowing irregularities, political interference, and intimidation to define this process would be a dangerous precedent—one that undermines democratic standards and risks eroding public confidence in sports governance.
For the sake of transparency, fairness, and the future of handball in Nigeria, the 2025 HFN elections must be free of foul play.
Meanwhile,a stakeholder and ex Nigeria handball goalkeeper Johnson Samuel Gbadegesin also known as Jay has tasked voters to put the game first as they cast their votes during the forthcoming election scheduled for September 27, 2025 at the legendary Liberty Stadium now Obafemi Awolowo stadium, Ibadan.
JayJay who kept the goalpost for Nigeria In Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Gambia , Cote-Voire, Ghana and Morrocco besides featuring in the handball World Cup in Portugal in 1981 after a training tour in Germany in 1980 said the election between Adeyemi Adeniyi George also known as Osawe and his opponents should be a walk over for the former also known as Osawe and not a contest.
Johnson who started out as an intermediate player in Lagos state which it also played for as a senior player before representing Oyo state and Imo Lions posited that Osawe has the requisite experience to perform better than any of his opponents having played with him everywhere he went including Benue Buffaloes before his professional stint abroad.
He explained that his fiercest opponent is not known in the handball family as he never played the game in the league,at the national level compared to some one like Osawe who has a worldwide experience having gone through the whole gamut of handball while playing in the grassroots like me and ending up as a professional player abroad apart from representing Nigeria in Africa and even at the World Cup in 1981.
“Osawe has a fifty years experience as a player, which he capped up with as a professional player in Europe after his experience in Nigeria and the African handball scene.
None of his opponents come close to him in terms of experience which does not put them in a very pole position to know the nitty gritty of handball as a game observing that what is needed to further the game besides the welfare of the stakeholders and the players is experience .
“It time we began thinking about the game and not through our pockets like some people are wont to do during election” JayJay stated”
“Osawe is an accomplished handball player who played in Europe where he featured in Germany besides playing for
Nigeria in Egypt, Algeria,Tunisia and Morrocco, Gambia and Ghana, and much more “
“We need some one who knows the game very well and not someone who is going to learn the rope,and that is not what we need now to move the game forward from where it is” the former Nigerian goalkeeper pointed out.
“Our game of handball requires some one who is capable and who knows how to develop the game through sponsorship of the game and regular competitions which will enhance the game compared to somebody whose period in handball was at the Teachers training level”
“Handball has gone beyond where he left it when he was at the Teachers Training College when he was a student more than forty years ago “
“Osawe does not need any lecturing or tutelage in handball because he has been in the game as a player in Nigeria, Africa and even at the world level apart from playing in Europe for team there in contrast with his opponents who wants to usurp and learn on the job”
