The Nigeria Tennis Federation has called on the Nigeria Olympic Committee to immediately retract to the disqualification of their candidate, Engr. Sani Ndanusa in the race for the forthcoming NOC election.

Speaking yesterday in Abuja, 1st Vice President of the Federation Adeyemi Owoseni, said the federation requests for immediate retraction through a press statement on the purported suspension of Nigeria Tennis Federation from NOC activities.

He said inview of the controversy generated and the security implications, the proposed venue of the NOC election which is Jigawa home state of incumbent president Habu Gumel, who is seeking re-election, be changed to a neutral ground.

Suggesting either Abuja or Lagos as the best locations for the elections, the home of an interested party and a contestant will be counter productive to the exercise he argued.

Owoseni, who said the NOC top shots are simply witch-hunting the person of Sani Ndanusa, revealed that because they are interested in power by all means, they have incorporated an association called triathlon to vote even when there was no record of election held anywhere at the zones or at the national level supervised by the National Sports Commission.

Querying why a decision was taken to disqualify tennis without inquiry when Article 8:2 of NOC constitution states that affiliation may be withdrawn for whatever reason after equity, by NOC Arbitration commission," he said they were not invited at any time to face or defend themselves on any matter, asking where is the equity that the NOC and the IOC preach?

He observed that in a situation where contestants in the forthcoming NOC elections sit and screen fellow contestants is alien to fair play and justice and totally unacceptable to them at the Tennis Federation.

According to him, all members of the Executive Committee that sat at the NOC meeting of 18 November filed nomination papers to vye for offices in the forthcoming elections.

In a related development to challenge the act of the NOC officials for disqualifying Engr. Sani Ndanusa, 17 out of 18 Olympic Sports Federations presidents yesterday rose up to counter the move. They are Rotimi Taylor, Boxing, Folusho Adefemi Gymnastics, Isa Matori, Judo, Jonathan Nnaji Taekwando, Adeyemi Owoseni Tennis, Solomon Ogba Athletics, B.I. Adedimeji Weightlifting, Tijani Umar Basketball, Yusuf Dauda Handball, Gen Hamakim Shooting, Patrick Ukah Hockey, Fatai Williams, Swimming, Taiwo Nathaniel Karate, Austin Edeze Wrestling, Danlami Sanchi Badminton, Rear Adm Porbeni Sailing, Canoeing-rowing and Kayode Abdulwahab Table Tennis. Only Dr Morakinyo of Volleyball did not sign.