NMA leadership crisis deepens as Bala Audu-led officers reject suspension and dismiss caretaker committee

NMA leadership labels April 15 suspension of President Bala Audu unconstitutional, confirming national elections in Kano will proceed as planned in 2026.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 24, 2026, 8:43 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Channels Television

National Officers Assert Constitutional Authority

The leadership struggle within the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) intensified on Friday, April 24, 2026, as the National Officers Committee (NOC) led by Professor Bala Audu dismissed claims of his suspension. At a press briefing held at the association’s Abuja headquarters, Secretary-General Benjamin Egbo described the move to remove Audu as unconstitutional and procedurally void. The NOC argues that the Emergency Delegates Meeting (EDM) held on April 15 lacked the legal standing to suspend a sitting president, asserting that the association remains unified under Audu’s legitimate leadership.

Dispute Over Election Disqualifications

The roots of the current friction lie in the NOC’s decision to disqualify six candidates from the association's upcoming national elections. Egbo explained that the disqualifications were based on the submission of incomplete documentation, a standard adherence to the body's electoral rules. However, this decision was met with immediate pushback from a faction of 63 delegates representing 23 state branches and the Federal Capital Territory. These delegates convened an EDM to overturn the disqualifications and establish a caretaker committee, a move the current leadership has labeled as an attempt to destabilize the association.

Security Presence at National Secretariat

Addressing reports that the NMA national secretariat had been sealed, Egbo clarified that security operatives were called to the premises only to prevent potential disruptions by "suspected thugs." He emphasized that the building was cordoned off as a precautionary measure in response to credible threats and denied that the suspension announcement had led to a formal takeover of the offices. The Secretary-General accused organizers of the EDM of spreading propaganda and warned that the association is prepared to seek legal redress to protect its governing structure.