The leadership crisis within the Nigerian Medical Association intensified on Friday after the faction led by its president, Professor Bala Audu, dismissed claims of his suspension and described the move as unconstitutional.
According to The PUNCH, the association’s Secretary-General, Benjamin Egbo, maintained that Audu remains the legitimate leader of the body, rejecting the outcome of an Emergency Delegates Meeting held on April 15.
“The NMA remains united under the leadership of Professor Bala Audu. There is no faction,” Egbo said.
He argued that the meeting, which reportedly suspended the president and set up a caretaker committee, lacked the constitutional backing to take such action. According to him, due process was not followed in convening the meeting or arriving at its decisions.
Egbo described the EDM as an illegitimate gathering allegedly convened by some members, warning that its resolutions were null and void.
“The so-called Emergency Delegates Meeting does not have the authority to suspend a sitting president. What happened is a clear violation of our constitution,” he stated.
The Secretary-General traced the crisis to the disqualification of six aspirants from the association’s forthcoming elections by the National Officers Committee.
He explained that the affected candidates failed to submit complete documentation, prompting their disqualification.
“That decision was based strictly on guidelines. Unfortunately, it triggered disagreements that escalated into the current situation,” Egbo said.
He also dismissed reports that the NMA national secretariat had been sealed, clarifying that security personnel were only deployed to prevent a breakdown of law and order following intelligence about possible disruptions.
“There was no shutdown of the secretariat. Security presence was purely preventive, based on credible threats,” he added.
Meanwhile, the disputed EDM, attended by delegates from several state branches and the Federal Capital Territory, had earlier announced Audu’s suspension and approved the formation of a caretaker committee to oversee the association pending fresh elections.
Delegates at the meeting also reversed the disqualification of the six candidates, insisting they should be allowed to contest in the upcoming polls.
However, the Audu-led leadership has rejected both decisions, insisting they are procedurally flawed and cannot stand.
Egbo said the association would explore legal options to protect its structure and ensure adherence to its constitution.
“We will take all necessary steps, including legal action, to defend the integrity of the NMA and its leadership,” he said.
He further confirmed that the association’s Annual Delegates Meeting and elections would proceed as scheduled, noting that the disqualification of one presidential aspirant would remain in place.
