Nigeria dared world football governing body FIFA yesterday as the Christopher Giwa factional board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), declared that there will not be any election on Thursday, September 4.

The faction enjoys the strong backing of Sports Minister Tamuno Danagogo, who has factionlised the NFF since his appointment by President Goodluck Jonathan last March.

World football-governing body FIFA had in a letter signed by Secretary-General Jerome Valcke, addressed to NFF General Secretary Musa Amadu last Friday ordered that Ambassador Christopher Giwa, elected in a controversial congress on Tuesday last week, should vacate office by the midnight of yesterday (Monday), with a new election conducted on September 4. Failure to adhere to this order, FIFA warned that further action, which could involve suspending Nigeria, might be taken.

But at press time on Monday, Giwa maintained that there will be nothing like election in two days time. "No, no, it will never happen. I don't see how FIFA can suspend us. Few people cannot hold us to ransom, because they lost election," Giwa said while responding to a question from journalists in Abuja on Monday evening.

On the FIFA letter, Giwa, the proprietor of Giwa FC, said Nigerians should not panic, adding, "we will respond appropriately."

•Adapted from a Nigerian Tribune report. Photo shows Sports Minister Danagogo, who is fuelling the NFF crisis.