RismadarVoice Reporters
March 20, 2026
A health expert and founder of the Medical Jurisprudence Advocacy Initiative, Faithful Miebaka, has called for strict adherence to the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Constitution amid growing controversy surrounding the association’s 2026 national elections.
The elections have been marred by disputes following the disqualification of several candidates over alleged incomplete documentation, a development that has sparked debate within the medical community.
In a statement issued on Friday in Calabar, Miebaka acknowledged that the National Officers Committee (NOC) has the constitutional authority to vet and disqualify candidates. However, he argued that the outcome of the exercise where six out of 20 nominees were screened out may lack legal validity due to procedural shortcomings.
“While the vetting committee acted within its powers, the basis upon which such powers were exercised may render the process fundamentally flawed,” he said.
Citing provisions of the NMA Constitution 2024, particularly Articles 3 and 11, Miebaka noted that the association has the authority to regulate its internal electoral processes, including determining the validity of nomination forms and setting submission requirements.
He stressed that participants in any electoral process are bound by its rules, warning against selective compliance. “One cannot accept the benefits of a process while rejecting its obligations,” he stated.
Despite this, the expert identified a major procedural gap, pointing to the absence of formally published guidelines governing the nomination process. According to him, for any regulation to have legal effect, it must be clearly communicated to those it applies to.
“Without properly published rules, any disqualification arising from such a process becomes a nullity. You cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stand,” he argued.
Miebaka also questioned the consistency of the disqualification criteria, noting the lack of precedent for excluding candidates on similar grounds in previous elections, which could weaken the justification for the current action.
He warned that even a process lawful in conception could be invalidated if not properly executed, describing the current vetting outcomes as potentially unsustainable in law.
The expert urged the leadership of the NMA to ensure full compliance with constitutional provisions while safeguarding the rights of members, to preserve the integrity and credibility of the association’s electoral process.
