A major crisis has erupted within the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) as 24 state branch chairmen and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) rejected the disqualification of candidates in the forthcoming 2026–2028 National Officers Committee (NOC) elections.
The chairmen, led by Ekiti State chairman and Chairman of Chairmen, Dr. Oreyemi Ifedayo Olawale, described the disqualifications as unconstitutional and warned of imminent action if the decision is not reversed.
Those backing the resolution include Dr. Ezuruike Ezinwa (Abia), Dr. Dahiru Yunusa (Adamawa), Dr. Okam Princeton (Anambra), Dr. Izibeya Wilcox (Bayelsa) and Dr. Amina Japheth Onyewuchi (Benue), among others.
Others are Dr. Hassan Bala Salihu (Kaduna), Dr. Muhammadu Sani Abubakar (Katsina), Prof. O. Abdulrahman Afolabi (Kwara), Dr. Adeniyi Fasanu (Osun), Dr. Adedapo Happy (Oyo) and Dr. Kumtap Yilji Cashmir (Plateau).
In total, 24 state chairmen and the FCT representative endorsed the position.
In a resolution issued after an emergency meeting on April 10, which was made available to journalists on Tuesday, the group said the disqualifications were based on “an ambiguous administrative clause” and were “unconstitutional and alien to the practices and traditions of previous electoral processes.”
They added,“We are very unhappy and disappointed at the lack of concern of the NOC about how its current decision threatens the sanity and sanctity of the association.”
The chairmen accused the NMA leadership of ignoring repeated interventions by senior stakeholders, including past presidents and former secretary-generals, who had called for a reversal.
They demanded the immediate convening of an Emergency Delegates Meeting (EDM), warning that “the countdown to the EDM remains active until 21st April 2026.”
“We shall… take necessary steps and decision to salvage our electoral processes,” they said.
Documents from NMA caucuses across the six geopolitical zones show a nationwide rejection of the disqualifications.
In the North Central zone, leaders said the vetting process “lacks clarity on what incomplete application means” and described the decision as inconsistent with constitutional provisions.
They added that “the action of NOC to disqualify candidates on grounds outside the constitutional provisions is overreaching and we call for its reversal.”
The South East caucus condemned the disqualification of six candidates as unconstitutional, while the South West zone insisted “there is no provision for such in accordance with Article 11(1) of the Constitution.”
In the North West, leaders described the process as “unconstitutional and not reflective of the collective will,” as the South-South caucus demanded reinstatement of all affected aspirants.
The controversy has been further heightened by the case of Prof. Ofem Enang, with documents indicating that he and others were not formally notified before their alleged disqualification.
The South-South caucus said the affected candidates “have not been formally informed as to why they have been disqualified,” raising concerns over transparency.
Findings also indicate that multiple candidates, including Enang have been cleared as delegates which makes the decision to exclude these candidates from the ballot questionable.
The chairmen warned
that the current trajectory could destabilise the association if not urgently addressed.
“A path leading to crisis and anarchy should be avoided by all means necessary,” they said.
