The crisis rocking the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) seems to be intensifying as over 200 delegates are scheduled to meet in Abuja on Wednesday for an Emergency Delegates Meeting over the disqualification of candidates for the ADM elections.

The disqualification of six aspirants had recently attracted widespread criticisms from some quarters with some of the affected aspirants calling for intervention or state chairmen and Past Presidents of the association.

In a statement issued on Monday in Lokoja, Chairman of States Chairmen of NMA, Dr Oreyemi Ifedayo, noted that the disqualifications, announced in recent weeks, have been condemned by state chairmen, caucuses, and the Committee of Past Presidents, who want NMA President Bala Audu to reverse the decision.

Ifedayo explained that the Emergency Delegate Meeting became necessary after interventions failed.

He observed that the Committee of Past Presidents has met and resolved that these disqualifications must be reversed to ensure a level playing field adding that the committee’s decisions are final under the constitution.

He said, “It is regrettable that the President has disregarded these interventions and appears set on a course that may cause chaos.Delegates will meet on April 22 to deliberate and restore peace. All arrangements are in place, with over 200 attendees verified,” .

Recently, a Consultant family physician and past Chairman of the Medical Guild, Lagos, Dr Oluwajimi Sodipo, faulted the alleged decision of the leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to unfairly exclude six qualified aspirants from contesting for electoral positions in its forthcoming national election, describing it as a deadly miscalculation.

Sodipo, who was an aspirant for the post of National Publicity Secretary of the association, alleged that, despite meeting the constitutional requirements of a signed form with a valid proposer and seconder, along with evidence of previously being a National Executive Council member, six aspirants were disqualified, including himself.

He therefore called on all organs of the association, including state chairmen, past presidents, delegates, and members, to immediately intervene to protect the association’s integrity and governance by reversing the disqualification and upholding the rule of law.

He stressed that failure to do so will be challenged to the highest level of the judicial system.

In a statement made available to The Guardian, Sodipo claimed that the overall consensus among all organs of the association, including past presidents, past Secretaries General, and members of the National Executive Council, was that the disqualification is illegal.

According to him, other aspirants disqualified by the National Officers Committee include Dr Enang Ofem Egbe who who aspiring for the position of the President of the association, Dr Muhammad Dansabe Isah an aspirant for 1st Vice President , Dr Omokhua Harrison , an aspirant for Secretary , Dr Elijah Tonde Gargah, aspirant for Deputy Secretary and Dr Muhammadu Sani Abubakar who was an aspirant for the position of the Treasurer .