Members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) have suspended their National President Prof Bala Audu and  the leader of the association National Officers Committee (NOC) for violating and disregarding the association constitution.

The suspension was handed down at the association Emergency Delegates Meeting (EDM) which had in attendance 63 members, including Chairmen and Secretaries from 23 states of the Federation, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Members had accused Audu led administration of illegally disqualifying six members of the association from contesting various post in the association national election scheduled to hold at NMA Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Kano between April 27 and May 3.

It was gathered that Audu led executive, including the NOC allegedly disqualified the six aspirants on the ground that they all submitted incomplete document.
Already , a caretaker committee led by a former Secretary General of the association , Dr Ekpe Phillips,  was constituted during the meeting to run the affairs of the association, until after election, and to ensure that Audu led NOC face disciplinary committee, and sanctioned if found guilty.

At the meeting, members unanimously voted for the reversal of the disqualification of the six candidates, in the voting which was moderated by Dr Omotayo Adetunji, and Dr Fernandez Akinnagbe, who were nominated as Chairman and Secretary of before commencement of EDM.

Members noted that the Audu led NOC acted illegally by disqualifying six candidates and voted that the disqualified candidates be allowed to contest their various position in the association election.

Chairman of the Emergency Delegate Meeting (EDM), Dr Omotayo Adetunji noted that the disqualified candidates were duly nominated for the position they were vying for by their various states adding that they submitted their forms, only for some officers among the NOC to come out with a release that some candidates were disqualified.

He said ,  “The NOC claimed that there are some irregularities with these candidates application, and that they submitted incomplete document, this position is alien to NMA, the excuse used on these candidates is alien to us.

“We have tried all what we could to resolved and address this matter peacefully before this EDM but all to no avail. The NOC adamantly refused, we then took this matter up collected signatures from 105 members  for this EDM which cover two-thirds of the state branches.

“We have taken our stance because what Audu did is a violation of NMA constitution,” Adetunji noted .

The Chairman, NMA-FCT, Dr Emeka Ayogu supported the decision taken at the EDM, saying that members had no option than to take such decision since all their efforts to broker peace before the EDM failed.

Ayogu stated that the level of impunity and arrogance demonstrated by Audu led NOC was unnecessary adding the EDM became imperative considering that some of the members don’t want NMA to be brought to disrepute.

He said, “We want NMA that will remain united, we want NMA that will talk about the rights and  welfare of members.