Management of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Abia State, has dismissed a report alleging that the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Barrister Fidelis Edeh, attempted to sack some internal members of the Council.

The university described the report published by an online platform as misleading and malicious, alleging that some former internal members of the Governing Council sponsored the publication.

In a statement dated September 19, 2026, the Head of Public Relations and Protocol, Mr Anyaso Anyaso, urged members of the university community, stakeholders and the general public to disregard what he described as the misleading claims and rely on official information from the institution.

Anyaso said there was no Governing Council meeting on the day the alleged sack was purportedly discussed because the Council could not form a quorum following the expiration of the tenure of the former internal members.

He explained that the affected internal Council members were elected on September 7, 2022, for a four-year tenure, which expired on September 7, 2026.

According to him, the Pro-Chancellor has no power to extend or terminate the tenure of any Council member, whether internal or external.

Referencing a circular titled, “Reviewing the Guidelines for Ministries’ Representatives on the Governing Councils of Federal Tertiary Institutions,” Anyaso said the document relates specifically to external Council members representing federal ministries, including the Federal Ministry of Education and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, as applicable to MOUAU.

He argued that the reported attempted sack could not apply to internal Council members whose tenure had already expired.

“The right thing for the ex-internal Council members to do is to go back to their various constituencies — Senate, Congregation and Convocation — and represent themselves,” he said, urging them to seek fresh mandates.

Anyaso also disclosed that some of the former internal Council members had written to dissociate themselves from what he described as the activities of some of their former colleagues.

On the use of the word “pandemonium” in the online report, Anyaso described it as an “unprofessional attempt” by the publishers and their alleged sponsors to tarnish the image of the Pro-Chancellor and whip up public sentiment that, he said, did not reflect the atmosphere at the briefing held by the Chairman with external and former internal Council members.

Although he said the university considered it unnecessary at the moment, Anyaso warned that the institution “may be forced to publish evidence on certain issues and hold those who attempt to tarnish the image of the University and her officials accountable.”

He also urged media organisations to report responsibly and verify information before publication, particularly on issues capable of creating tension or misunderstanding within the university community.