Elections of new leaders of Oduma Football Federated Association (ODUFFA) would hold on January 1, 2026. Already – like always – tempers are rising, as the contestants and their supporters draw swords and are beginning to fight dirty on social media.
At the centre of the contention lies crucial assumption that the association’s presidency is, in fact, the only serious position. Although football usually bring the 18 Oduma villages together, contest for ODUFFA presidency always divide them.
Two men has stepped out, vying for the all-important spot in Oduma football community. Mr Augustine Uwanekwu is from Amagu community while Mr Samson Okechukwu is from Amorji Oduma.
The little we know about the ODUFFA presidencial candidates
Augustine Uwanekwu (alias Mbe Kwuoto), about 37 years old, schooled at Central School Oduma between 1994 and 2000. An avid sports lover, Uwanekwu has participated in all sports activities during his primary school days, representing his school more than once in Aninri and around Enugu State.
At Community Secondary School Oduma, where he furthered his education, Mbe – as he is popularly known – left even bigger imprints. Again, he was in sports and also made marks in Man-O-War society.
His aspiration to join the army after his graduation, however, suffered setback. So Mbe returned to Oduma and resumed his passions: sports and politics.
He won the ODUFFA’s best goalkeeper of the year four consecutive times. Retiring from playing Amagu team, Mbe was appointed it’s coach. In matter of months he had beat it to shape and won ODUFFA trophy two consecutive times, making him the only coach to achieve such a feat in Amagu football history.
Mbe kwoto has served several administrations in different capacities in Amagu autonomous community. Currently the Treasurer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oduma ward 2, Mbe gets around a lot.
His leadership skills and his boundless energy are behind his mass following and popularity in Oduma and beyond.
In the other hand, Samson Okechukwu is from Amorji. Much is not known about his childhood as some alleged he had lived and schooled in the North until his adolescence age.
One time president of defunct National Association of Oduma Undergraduates – the association he helped to destroy – Samson is a moderately successful builder by local standard. Although a lover of football, he never play for his Amorji community in ODUFFA tournaments. Sometimes, he is tapped to officiate matches.
But Samson Okechukwu – popularly called Sammy – is allegedly an irredeemable gambler, literally living in bets houses and playing Visuals irresponsibly.
In his first campaign speech before Oduma online communities recently, he proposed to convert ODUFFA to women league where men’s participation would be abysmally minimal.
“We know why he said that,” Ekene Nwachukwu from Ukete village told Info Wars, adding that Sammy is a first-class womaniser.
How Amorji and Amagu are reacting to the elections
Nearly every person in Amagu is “fully supporting” Augustine Uwanekwu for ODUFFA presidency, several informal surveys show. According to sources from Amorji, there are reasons – apart from competence question – why Sammy is not enjoying such acceptance in his own place.
“He impregnated three village girls across Oduma and denied all of them,” a man from Amorji said in anonymity.
“Second, our people (Amorji) fielded a great candidate, a man who could have given ODUFFA noble job. That young man is the people’s choice; he is loved among Oduma sports community.
“Sammy is no match to this man. But it was Sammy who vowed that ‘over his dead body’ should he step down for the man whom Amorji as a community had nominated. The man has since withdrawn from the race.
“Amorji can’t afford to bring shame to its name before Oduma by supporting a man we’re sure would disappoint ODUFFA. We can’t send a third-rate candidate while we have some excellent men in Amorji. Sammy must withdraw or he can go ahead, alone to the polls,” the source concluded.
