NBBF Elections: Igoche Mark Faults Trial, Withdraws From Presidential Race

NBBF Elections: Igoche Mark Faults Trial, Withdraws From Presidential Race

Abuja (Core Reporters) One of the leading presidential aspirants in the forthcoming Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) elections, Mr. Igoche Mark has withdrawn from the race.

Mark, founder of the Mark D’Ball Basketball Championship and owner of the Mark Mentors Basketball Club, announced his retirement in a statement on Tuesday, October 14, 2026.

Addressing his basketball family, Mark said his decision to run for president of the NBBF was driven by a genuine passion for the game.

“My decision to aspire for the presidency of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) was born out of a genuine desire and passion to contribute to the growth of our game,” he said.

He explained that his vision was clear from the beginning.

“My intentions have been clear, clean and focused: to grow grassroots basketball, reposition our national league to meet higher standards, create more opportunities for our players and coaches, and demonstrate that what is achievable in basketball internationally can also be achieved here at home in Nigeria,” he said.

Mark said that despite his commitment to an issue-based campaign, he was forced to make the difficult decision to step aside after evaluating the election process.

“After careful consideration and candid evaluation of the process leading up to this election, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the race for the presidency of the NBBF,” he announced.

He criticized the credibility of the process, saying it cannot produce a leader who enjoys the trust of stakeholders.

“Let me state clearly that, in my opinion, while the process may have been free, it was not fair and credible enough to ensure a level playing field for all contestants,” Mark said.

“My decision to retire is therefore not an abandonment of my commitment to Nigerian basketball. It is a statement of principle and a reflection of my belief that leadership must emerge from a process that requires the trust, confidence and acceptance of the people it is meant to serve,” he added.

The former owner of the Nigerian champion insisted that his involvement in basketball was never about titles.

“My involvement in Nigerian basketball has never been about titles, positions or personal accolades. It has always been about passion, sacrifice and a genuine desire to build, develop and grow the game,” he said.

He expressed concern that the fundamental problems facing the sport will persist if the leadership selection process remains flawed.

“I entered this race because I believed I could contribute to a new chapter in our basketball administration, defined by transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, development and unity. Unfortunately, I remain concerned that the challenges facing Nigerian basketball will continue to persist if we fail to address the fundamental issues of fairness, credibility, trust and meaningful stakeholder participation in the process of choosing our leaders,” he noted.

Mark was outspoken about what he described as a selection masquerading as an election.

“If we want to conduct an election, let’s conduct an election. But if we don’t want an election, then we should be honest enough to admit that we want a selection. We cannot call a process an election while denying contestants and interested parties a fair opportunity to determine the outcome,” he said.

“An election must be a true context in which every qualified competitor has a fair opportunity to compete and interested parties are free to choose their preferred leader. Anything short of this risks undermining trust in the process and deepening the divisions that we should work together to overcome,” he added.

He stressed that unity cannot be achieved without justice.

“There can be no true unity without equity, and there can be no sustainable progress without the trust of the people. The path to unity in Nigerian basketball is clear: there must be a level playing field for every competitor and basketball stakeholders must be allowed to freely choose who leads the Federation,” he said.

Despite stepping aside, Mark said he remains committed to the game.

“I would like to stress that I am walking away from competition, not Nigerian basketball,” he said.

“My commitment to the development of the game remains unwavering. I will continue to support initiatives that create opportunities for our youth, strengthen our basketball facilities, improve our competitions and restore confidence in the administration of the sport,” he assured.

He thanked his supporters and called for reforms.

“To everyone who believed in me, supported my aspiration, offered advice and stood by my side throughout this journey, I express my deep gratitude. Your support has meant a lot to me and I will always appreciate the faith you have placed in my vision for Nigerian basketball,” he said.

“I sincerely hope that this moment can inspire honest reflection and meaningful reform, ensuring that future elections are conducted on a basis of fairness, transparency, credibility and genuine stakeholder participation,” he added.

Mark concluded with a strong message about his future in basketball.

“I may withdraw from this race, but I will not withdraw from the fight to build Nigerian basketball. I may turn away from the pursuit of office, but I will never turn away from my responsibility to the game I love. My passion remains. My commitment remains. And my belief in the enormous potential of Nigerian basketball remains unshaken,” he said.