Crisis as Edo doctors elect 2 chairmen

JETHRO IBILEKE/Benin

Crisis appears to be brewing in the Edo State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), following the inauguration of two parallel executives within two days.

The former executives of the association led by Dr. Philip Ugbodaga had last Saturday conducted election at which Dr. James Kpolugbo was elected chairman along with other members of the executive.

But today, the national body of the NMA conducted another election at the Central Hospital in Benin where another executive led by Dr. Emmanuel Ighodaro emerged.

Commenting on the state of the Edo NMA today, the national President of the NMA, Dr. Osahon Enabulele who described Dr. Kpolugbo-led executive as “fraudulent,” said the Dr. Ighodaro-led exco was the authentic executive recognized by the national body of the association.

He described the election conducted by Dr. Ugbodaga as “a kangaroo election not attended by more than 30 medical doctors.”

Dr. Enabulele said the Monday election that produced Dr. Ighodaro as State Chairman was attended by over 100 medical doctors, including former NMA President, Dr. Dominic Osaghae,
Prof. Linus Ajabor and the Edo State Director, medical Services, Dr. Mrs. Eboreime.

He explained that the former executive of the Edo NMA was not qualified to conduct election to produce new set of executive as it along with NMA executives for Jigawa and Niger States had earlier been suspended from the national body for breaching the constitution of the NMA by overstaying their tenures.

The situation he said made the election conducted by the former executive in the State null and void.

In his reaction, former Edo State NMA Chairman, Dr. Philip Ugbodaga said due process was followed in conducting the election that produced Dr. James Kpolugbo, adding that those who took part in the election of today also took part in last Saturday’s election that produced Dr. Kpolugbo.

“What is happening now is people who lost now running to national to save face. Having lost, they formed a parallel body.”

He said some of those who were disqualified from taking part from Saturday’s election were so disqualified because they did not meet up with the financial requirement of the association, even as he described Monday’s election supervised by the national officers of the association as “a free for all and kangaroo election” where the rules of the constitution were not applied.

“Election should not be a do or die if the intent is for service,” Dr. Ugbodaga said, adding that those who want to hold office should have waited for the expiration of the tenure of the Dr. Kpolugbo-led executive to aspire to lead.