An emergency delegates’ meeting of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) is set to take place in Abuja on Wednesday, as more than 200 members convene to address a growing leadership crisis within the body.
Dr Oreyemi Ifedayo, Chairman of State Chairmen, disclosed in a statement released on Monday in Lokoja that the meeting was necessitated by the disputed disqualification of candidates for the association’s upcoming elections.
He accused the NMA President, Professor Bala Audu, of removing candidates for the Annual Delegates Meeting without following due process, a move that has sparked widespread concern among stakeholders nationwide.
Dr Ifedayo noted that the decision has been widely criticised by state chairmen, caucuses, and the Committee of Past Presidents over the past fortnight, with calls mounting for compliance with constitutional provisions.
Despite appeals urging a reversal of the decision ahead of the Annual Delegates Meeting, he said the NMA President had refused, thereby worsening divisions within the association’s leadership.
He explained that the emergency meeting had been called to prevent further escalation, adding that members have rejected the disqualification, describing it as unconstitutional.
According to him, the NMA constitution recognises the Committee of Past Presidents as the ultimate authority on constitutional matters, and the committee had advised that the disqualifications be overturned in the interest of fairness.
Dr Ifedayo expressed concern that the committee’s recommendation had not been implemented, cautioning that such actions could erode trust and cohesion within the association.
Organisers stated that the meeting would provide a platform to review the controversy and outline measures to restore stability, unity, and institutional credibility within the NMA.
