*Demands Immediate Reinstatement
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/TheNigerialawyer-WhatsApp-Channel1.jpg")
The Renaissance 2026 Campaign Team has strongly opposed the alleged disqualification of University of Calabar Professor of Internal Medicine, Dr. Ofem Enang, from the upcoming Nigerian Medical Association presidential election, describing the move as unconstitutional, procedurally flawed, and a direct threat to due process and the credibility of the NMA’s electoral system.
In a statement signed by the campaign’s National Coordinator, Dr. Ezoke Epoke, the group said the decision raises serious questions about transparency and the rule of law within the association, and called for Enang’s immediate reinstatement.
The campaign team said Dr. Enang fully met all constitutional requirements for nomination, endorsement, and submission of his forms within the designated timelines, but was neither informed of any deficiencies in his candidacy nor given an opportunity for clarification or a fair hearing before being disqualified.
“This decision is deeply concerning, procedurally flawed, and raises constitutional issues. Dr. Enang fully met all constitutional requirements for nomination, endorsement, and submission of his forms within the designated timelines. Yet he was not informed of any deficiencies nor given an opportunity for clarification or a fair hearing,” the statement read.
According to the team, Enang personally submitted his nomination form along with endorsements from seven state chairmen before the deadline, fulfilling the requirements under the NMA Constitution.
The Renaissance 2026 team argued that Article 11 of the NMA Constitution clearly guarantees that all eligible members have the right to contest elections provided they meet the nomination requirements, and that no provision exists for the National Officers’ Committee or any individual to unilaterally disqualify a properly nominated candidate.
“The Constitution does not provide any authority for the National Officers’ Committee or any individual to unilaterally disqualify a properly nominated candidate. To disqualify Dr. Enang without explanation is a violation of due process and sets a dangerous precedent that could undermine the credibility of the NMA electoral process,” the statement added.
The campaign team appealed to former NMA presidents, past secretaries-general, and other stakeholders to intervene and ensure that the electoral process is conducted fairly and in strict compliance with the association’s constitution.
“This issue is bigger than Dr. Enang. It is about defending the integrity of the NMA, protecting democracy, and upholding the rule of law within our profession,” the statement concluded.
Dr. Enang, a Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Calabar, entered the race for the NMA presidency earlier this year, declaring that the worsening crisis in the medical profession can only be reversed through what he described as a deliberate reset of broken systems.
Speaking to doctors across all cadres on January 11, Enang said the challenges confronting Nigerian doctors — ranging from poor welfare and insecurity to mass emigration, eroded earnings, and repeated breaches of agreements by the government — are symptoms of systemic failure rather than individual shortcomings.
He said it was this conviction that informed his decision to contest the presidency of the NMA and the unveiling of his reform blueprint titled “Renaissance 2026 – The Rebirth of Excellence,” which he described as a comprehensive framework for rebuilding institutions, restoring confidence, and repositioning the medical profession for the future.
According to Enang, the agenda is anchored on five pillars, with doctors’ welfare as the foundational pillar. His entry into the race had been widely welcomed by sections of the medical community who viewed his candidacy as a credible platform for reform.
The alleged disqualification and the strong pushback from Enang’s campaign team threaten to plunge the NMA’s electoral process into controversy at a time when the medical profession is grappling with multiple challenges, including the ongoing brain drain of doctors from Nigeria, welfare disputes with government, and calls for stronger institutional leadership.
If the disqualification stands without adequate explanation or due process, it could raise legitimacy questions about the eventual outcome of the NMA presidential election and deepen divisions within the association.
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