By Abdullahi Abdulrahman, Yenagoa
National News – The Central Organising Committee of the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, Prosperity Cup 2026, has suspended a referee over alleged biased officiating during a local government final match, raising concerns about fairness and integrity in the ongoing competition.
In a formal letter dated April 16, 2026, addressed to the Chairman of the Nigeria Referees Association, Bayelsa State Council, Mr. Ebi Nwankwe, the Director-General of the Prosperity Cup, Ono K. Akpe, and the Tournament Director, Ebi Avi, acknowledged the generally professional conduct of referees across various match centres.
According to the organisers, reports from field officers indicated that most matches in the tournament had been hitch-free, reflecting the strong working relationship between the referees’ council and tournament organisers.
However, the committee expressed concern over isolated cases of poor and biased officiating, specifically mentioning Stephen Onyekwere.
The letter stated that Onyekwere’s handling of the Ekeremor Local Government Area final between Krusaders and Osunmaibio at the Ayamasa Centre was “clearly biased” and nearly resulted in chaos at the venue.
The organisers warned that such actions could undermine the integrity of the tournament and potentially trigger security breaches at match centres if not addressed promptly.
“We kindly urge your Council to monitor its members officiating in the remaining matches to ensure they do not act in a manner capable of undermining the integrity of the tournament or causing a breach of public peace,” the organisers stated.
Following the incident, the Central Organising Committee resolved to suspend the referee from further participation in the Prosperity Cup 2026, citing loss of confidence in his officiating.
The Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, popularly known as the Prosperity Cup, remains one of the largest grassroots football competitions in Nigeria, drawing participation from communities across the state as part of activities marking Bayelsa’s 30th anniversary.
Organisers reaffirmed their commitment to fairness, professionalism, and transparency as the tournament progresses toward its concluding stages.
