FCE Okene Faces 6am Deadline Over Athletes' Eligibility »

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the Governor Ododo All-Campus Games 2026 has given the Federal College of Education (FCE), Okene, until 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 7, to produce athletes accused of being ineligible, warning that failure to comply could result in the institution’s disqualification from the finals.

The directive follows formal petitions submitted by other participating institutions alleging that FCE Okene used mercenaries or ineligible athletes in its male and female volleyball teams, as well as its athletics contingent.

According to a statement issued on Friday, November 6, and signed by the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Michael Achor Joshua, the petitioners reportedly submitted pictorial evidence and other records to support their allegations.

The committee disclosed that the affected matches were allowed to proceed under protest in accordance with the competition’s regulations, pending the determination of the petitions by the appropriate tournament authorities.

It said the decision was taken to prevent disruption of the competition while ensuring that the allegations could be investigated fairly.

In response to the petitions, the LOC invited the Sports Director of FCE Okene and the coaches of the affected teams to a meeting, where they were informed of the allegations and asked to produce the athletes whose eligibility had been questioned.

The committee said the requested verification was intended to establish the identities of the athletes and examine relevant documentation before reaching a decision.

However, the LOC stated that as of 9:00 p.m. on Friday, the institution’s Sports Director and coaches had yet to present the athletes for the verification exercise, despite being given the opportunity to respond to the allegations.

Consequently, the committee resolved that FCE Okene must produce all the affected athletes and players for investigation no later than 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2026.

It warned that failure to meet the deadline would lead to the institution’s disqualification from the finals of the affected competitions.

The LOC, however, clarified that its directive should not be interpreted as a determination of guilt against the institution or any of the athletes.

Rather, it described the requirement as an administrative measure necessary to resolve outstanding eligibility concerns before the commencement of the finals, which are scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m.

The committee also emphasised that the investigation was intended to protect the integrity of the competition and ensure that all participating institutions complied with the same eligibility requirements.

According to the statement, the Governor Ododo All-Campus Games 2026 is the maiden edition of the competition, which was established to promote sporting excellence, discipline, fair play and unity among tertiary institutions.

The LOC noted that the standards maintained during the inaugural edition would play an important role in determining the credibility and sustainability of future editions.

It further stressed the importance of protecting the reputation of the tournament, which bears the name of Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo.

The committee maintained that sporting achievements should be earned through legitimate participation, warning that questionable practices could undermine genuine athletes’ efforts and weaken public confidence in organised sports.

It also called on all participating institutions to remain calm, uphold sportsmanship and cooperate with the ongoing investigation.

The LOC assured stakeholders that all petitions would receive proper consideration, with affected parties given a fair opportunity to present their positions before decisions were reached in accordance with the tournament’s rules and regulations.