ANFA Electoral Committee Chairman, Barrister 
Prince Uche Darlington Okeke PhD, Promises 'Free, Fair, Credible' Election, After Inauguration

Barrister Prince Uche Darlington Okeke PhD, Chairman of the Anambra State Football Association, ANSFA Electoral Committee, has promised to deliver a 'free, fair, and credible' election during the forthcoming Anambra FA Local Football Council, LFC, and Board by-election billed for 14-15 January, 2025, Exclusivenews.com.ng reports.

The legal luminary made the 'bol and honourable' promise Thursday during the Inauguration of the five-member Electoral Committee by Barrister Joshua Onoja of the NFF legal department , at the Boardroom of the Anambra State Football Association in Awka.

Barrister Darlington Uche Okeke assured the contestants of a level playing field and urged to campaign seriously and convince the electorates on why they should vote for them.

This is even as the election time table has been released by the body, with the polls now mow moved from the earlier 17-18 December 2025 to 14-15 January, 2026.

He disclosed that the mandate given to him to midwife the ANSFA Election, is a 'test of integrity'.

"Of course, one will always be delighted to be saddled with the task of conducting such election. Reason is that this kind of task is a test of integrity and we've resolved within ourselves that we're going to maintain absolute neutrality and ensure that the election is conducted within every available legal framework and that it will be a free and fair election such that it would stand the test of time", the ANSFA Electoral Committee boss promised with shrewd confidence.

On his preparedness to surmount the electoral challenges posed by the assignment handed to him, he assured that as lawyers who are trained to solve problems, the FA elections issues won't be insurmountable.

"This is an intelligent question actually, but you know we are lawyers. And as lawyers, we're trained to solve problems. So, the bigger the problem, the merrier for us as lawyers. 

"We always want proffer solutions. Judging from our experience and antecedents, we would be able to contend with whatever challenges no matter where such challenges come from. I mean, this is an FA (election). 

"I can conduct Nigerian election as it stands, yes, the (now) Chairman of INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission), Professor Joash Amupetan, is a lawyer like myself. The difference is the rank. 

"So, if he can conduct election for the whole federation, as a colleague, what stops me from conducting successfully, a 'small' FA election for Anambra? It's a task that we're going to live up to".

He appealed to the contestants to play by the rules and ensure that they campaigned vigorously to sell themselves to the voters on why they should be voted for.

"My message to the contestants is that they should go out there and campaign thoroughly and they should know that ours is to ensure a free and fair process. 

"The Association has assured us of a seamless process. And ours, our duty, is to ensure that we conducted the elections and announce the results in line with the wishes of the people, in line with the number of votes won by each candidate".

The Electoral Committee has five members -- Barr Prince Darlington Uche Okeke PhD – Chairman,
Barr. Obi Ebosie, Barr. Chidozie Ogbuefi,
Hon. Odira Ezeh, Esq. and
Hon. Lawrence Nwekwe as members.

Also inaugurated in Awka on Thursday is the Appeals Committee headed by Barr. Ugochukwu Adilieje as Chairman with Mr. Chiadi Obidi and Barr. Cyril Ezimaka as members.

Ralph Nweke, scribe of the ANSFA, is to serve as the Secretary of the Electoral Committee and the Appeals Committee.