The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has suspended its National President, Prof. Bala Audu, over alleged violations of the association’s constitution and appointed a caretaker committee to oversee its affairs pending further action.
The decision was reached on Wednesday during an Emergency Delegates Meeting (EDM) held in Abuja, which brought together 63 delegates, including chairpersons and secretaries from 23 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Delegates expressed concern over the handling of the association’s forthcoming Annual General Meeting scheduled to hold in Kano from April 27 to May 3, particularly the disqualification of six aspirants from contesting national offices.
The National Officers Committee (NOC) had reportedly disqualified the affected candidates on grounds of incomplete documentation, a decision that sparked disagreement within the association.
Following deliberations, the delegates constituted a caretaker committee headed by Dr. Ekpe Phillips to manage the affairs of the NMA until the resolution of the crisis and the conduct of elections.
They also resolved that the disqualified aspirants should be allowed to participate in the upcoming election, following a vote conducted under the supervision of Dr. Omotayo Adetunji and Dr. Fernandez Akinnagbe.
A delegate at the meeting said the candidates had submitted their nomination forms but were later informed of their disqualification by the NOC, raising concerns about transparency and adherence to due process.
“Concerns were raised about the basis for the decision, and members called for clarity and adherence to established procedures,” the delegate said.
Efforts to resolve the dispute internally reportedly failed, prompting the Emergency Delegates Meeting, where members reviewed the situation and took decisions aimed at restoring stability.
The Chairman of the NMA-FCT, Dr. Emeka Ayogu, supported the outcome of the meeting, noting that earlier consultations did not resolve the matter.
“We want an association that remains united and focused on members’ welfare,” he said.
A former Deputy Secretary-General of the association, Dr. Umezurike Ikechukwu, also urged calm, stressing the importance of maintaining the NMA’s tradition of orderly leadership transitions.
“The association has maintained orderly transitions over the years, and it is important to preserve that tradition,” he said.
Reports indicated that the crisis within the NMA stems from disagreements over the conduct of its upcoming national elections and the disqualification of six aspirants.
Some members had questioned the fairness of the process, arguing that due procedures may not have been fully observed.
After attempts at reconciliation failed, delegates invoked provisions of the NMA constitution to convene the Emergency Delegates Meeting, where they took decisions on leadership and the electoral process.
Article 8, Section 2(2b) of the NMA constitution allows delegates at an EDM to form a quorum and take binding decisions, while Article 16 empowers them to sanction erring officers.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to obtain a reaction from the suspended President, Prof. Bala Audu, were unsuccessful.
