The eligibility controversy rocking the ongoing 2nd Niger Delta Games in Benin City intensified on Wednesday, with five additional athletes expelled from the competition over violations ranging from age discrepancies to questionable state-of-origin claims.
The latest sanctions came barely 12 hours after Edo State swimmer, Otunla Kolade Israel, was disqualified and stripped of his six medals — five gold and one silver — following revelations that his National Identification Number (NIN) traced his origin to Ikorodu in Lagos State, contrary to his representation of Edo.
The Games’ Technical Committee confirmed that the new round of expulsions followed formal protests and subsequent investigations.
In handball, Bayelsa State athletes John Vera and Ayimba Maria were ruled ineligible after documentation reportedly showed they exceeded the approved age limit for their category.
Goodness Ekunke, who competed in chess, was also disqualified over inconsistencies discovered in submitted eligibility papers.
Similarly, Ondo State’s track and field athlete, Okafor Adolphus, was withdrawn from competition after inquiries raised concerns about both his age declaration and state of origin, with findings indicating links to Anambra State.
Not all petitions resulted in penalties. Edo’s Bright Joel Udoh (table tennis) and Abia’s Wisdom Chibueze Nweke (tennis) were cleared after review panels found no sufficient evidence to warrant sanctions.
In another case, Delta State’s Ngozi Okereke Treasure was allowed to compete despite an age-related petition flagged by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), as no verifiable legal documents were provided to support the allegation.
The wave of disqualifications has triggered fresh calls for stricter punishment against coaches and sports administrators accused of enabling rule breaches.
Several stakeholders who spoke on the matter urged the organisers to enforce existing provisions that sanction officials linked to cases of age falsification and state-of-origin manipulation.
According to one track and field coach, who requested anonymity, the Games’ regulations clearly stipulate penalties for any coach or state official whose athlete is found guilty of cheating.
“The organisers must apply the rules firmly. That is the only way to restore credibility and discipline in our sports system,” he said.
Despite the setback of losing six medals, Edo State has maintained its dominance on the medals table, leading with 33 gold medals — seven ahead of Delta State, which boasts the highest overall medal count of 72.
Ten of Edo’s gold medals came from weightlifting, with Goodnews Jacob, Beauty Akpore, and Esther Adebola each securing three gold medals.
Defending champions Bayelsa currently occupy third place with 19 gold medals and a total haul of 45 medals.
Akwa Ibom and Rivers remain locked in a close mid-table contest, while Imo slipped further down the rankings in the latest update.
Officials insist the disciplinary measures demonstrate the Games’ resolve to enforce eligibility rules and protect competitive fairness among participating states.
However, there are indications that further investigations are ongoing, with reports suggesting that more athletes could face sanctions before the curtain falls on the regional sporting event.