The crisis rocking the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) deepened on Monday as Chairmen of State Branches and the Federal Capital Territory rejected the disqualification of some candidates ahead of the forthcoming 2026–2028 National Officers Committee elections.

The chairmen, in a communiqué issued after an emergency meeting held on April 10, 2026, expressed dissatisfaction with the decision of the National Officers Committee to disqualify candidates during the screening exercise.

The communiqué was jointly signed by the Chairman of Chairmen and Ekiti State Chairman, Dr Oreyemi Ifedayo Olawale, alongside several state branch chairmen including Dr Ezuruike Ezinwa (Abia), Dr Dahiru Yunusa (Adamawa), Dr Okam Princeton (Anambra), Dr Izibeya Wilcox (Bayelsa), Dr Onyewuchi Amina Japheth (Benue), Dr Yakubu Mohamed El-Yakub (Borno), Dr Ezoke Epoke (Cross River) and Dr Ayogu Emeka (FCT).

Others were Dr Girbo Adamu (Gombe), Dr Echeta Bartholomew Uzodinma (Imo), Dr Haruna Usman (Jigawa), Dr Hassan Bala Salihu (Kaduna), Dr Muhammadu Abubakar (Katsina), Prof Abdulrahman Afolabi (Kwara), Dr Ohyoma Isah (Nasarawa), Dr Isah Muhammad (Niger), Dr Alonge Muyiwa (Ondo), Dr Adeniyi Fasanu (Osun), Dr Adedapo Happy (Oyo), Dr Kumtap Yilji Cashmir (Plateau), Dr Farouk Kabir (Sokoto), Dr Kara Adamu Hamidu (Taraba), and Dr Usman Waziri (Yobe).

They said that appeals by stakeholders, including state chairmen, zonal leaders, past Secretary-Generals and Committee of Past Presidents urging the reversal of the disqualification had been ignored by the association’s national secretariat.

The forum described the development as disappointing, warning that the decision threatens the unity and integrity of the association built over the years through the sacrifices of past and present leaders.

They disagreed with the disqualification of the candidates based on what they described as ambiguous administrative clause, insisting that such grounds were illegal, unconstitutional and alien to the NMA established electoral traditions.

The chairmen further accused the body national secretariat of treating with levity a call for Emergency Delegates Meeting, stressing that the request ought to be honoured in line with the provisions of the association’s constitution.

The chairmen therefore called on the NMA President to convene an Emergency Delegates Meeting within the stipulated 14-day period as provided for under Article 7(2) of the constitution.

They also reminded the leadership that the countdown to the meeting would lapse on April 21, 2026, warning that failure to act within the timeframe could compel them to take necessary steps to safeguard the association’s electoral process.

They appealed to the NMA President to reconsider current direction, cautioning that any action capable of plunging the association into crisis and anarchy must be avoided.

Similarly, the NMA caucuses across the six geopolitical zones including North Central, South East, North West, South-South, among others, also rejected the disqualification of some candidates. (The Nation)