By Ayomide Otitoju
The Nigerian Medical Association (Nigerian Medical Association) has suspended its National President, Bala Audu, over alleged breaches of the association’s constitution following an Emergency Delegates Meeting (EDM) held in Abuja on Wednesday.
The meeting, attended by 63 delegates from 23 state branches and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), also approved the formation of a caretaker committee to manage the association’s affairs ahead of its Annual General Meeting scheduled for Kano between April 27 and May 3.
The decision has sparked a leadership crisis, as the Audu-led National Officers Committee (NOC) rejected the suspension, describing it as unconstitutional and procedurally flawed.
The dispute stems from the disqualification of six candidates ahead of the upcoming national elections. The NOC had cited incomplete documentation, but delegates at the EDM challenged the decision and voted to reinstate the affected candidates.
In response, the association’s leadership dismissed the EDM resolutions, insisting that due process was not followed in convening the meeting and in suspending the president.
The Secretary-General of the association, Dr. Ben Egbo, said the matter would be reviewed in line with constitutional provisions and that appropriate disciplinary measures would be applied where necessary. He also confirmed that the Annual Delegates Meeting and elections would proceed as scheduled.
Dr. Egbo added that the disqualification of one presidential candidate had been upheld after review, stressing that it would not be reversed.
The leadership maintained that the suspension and caretaker committee arrangement remain invalid, insisting that only constitutionally recognised procedures are binding within the association.
