Kogi State Chapter and Other Concerned Chapters/ Members of the Prince Abubakar Audu University Alumni Association has begun formal protest against the purported guidelines for virtual Congress/ elections of officials of the Association schedule for 26 September 2026
In statement signed by Comrade Jonah Omata
Chapter Chairman and Sylvanus Ufaruna
Chapter Secretary and made available to Treasuretimes times on Tuesday in Lokoja, noted that the intervention was not motivated by factionalism, personal interest or opposition to reconciliation, but, It is motivated by one fundamental principle, seeing that the Constitution of an Association is its governing instrument, and no committee, however constituted, can lawfully exercise powers that the Constitution has not conferred upon it.
We are therefore, left with no option than to place on record, our formal objection to the purported Guidelines, particularly those provisions relating to:
1. The introduction of a Faculty Based Collegiate System;
2. The restriction of Congress participation to 325 selected delegates,
3. The accreditation requirements;
4. The determination of Congress quorum,
5. The establishment and powers of an Electoral Committee (ELCOM);
6. The nomination and screening of candidates by ELCOM;
7. The electronic voting, collation and declaration of electoral results;
8. The determination of complaints arising from the election; and any other provision that materially alters the existing constitutional structure or rights of members.
1. THE 2009 CONSTITUTION MUST REMAIN THE GOVERNING FRAMEWORK
Our position is that the 2009 Constitution of the Alumni Association remains the extant constitutional instrument governing the Association, subject to any lawful amendment duly made in accordance with the Constitution and applicable law.
The fundamental questions that therefore require clear answers are:
Where in the 2009 Constitution is the power to introduce a Faculty-Based Collegiate System expressly or necessarily conferred ?
Where is the power to reduce or restrict constitutional participation in Congress to 325 selected delegates ?
Where is the power to establish an ELCOM with the extensive powers proposed ?
Where is the constitutional authority for replacing or substantially altering the existing voting structure through electronic voting ?
Where is the authority for prescribing a new quorum, accreditation regime and electoral procedure ?
These questions should be answered with or by reference to the actual provisions of the Constitution.
A committee guideline cannot supersede, amend, suspend or substantially alter constitutional provisions unless the Constitution itself or applicable law provides the necessary authority and procedure for doing so.
2. A GUIDELINE CANNOT AMEND A CONSTITUTION
Administrative guidelines are ordinarily intended to facilitate the implementation of an existing constitutional framework.
They cannot, merely by being designated as “Guidelines,” create a new constitutional order.
Where proposed guidelines alter:
who constitutes Congress;
who may participate in Congress;
who may vote;
how representatives are selected;
how votes are weighted;
how elections are conducted;
who may contest elective positions; or
who has authority to determine electoral disputes,
Thus, such provisions raise substantive constitutional questions and cannot simply be treated as administrative details.
The central question is therefore:
Does the extant Constitution authorise the proposed arrangements ?
If the answer is in the affirmative, the relevant provisions should be identified and disclosed to the membership. If the answer is in the negative, the Committee should not impose those arrangements through administrative guidelines.
3. THE PROPOSED FACULTY-BASED COLLEGIATE SYSTEM
We particularly object to the proposed Faculty Based Collegiate System because it appears to introduce a substantially different model of representation into the Association.
A collegiate system necessarily raises fundamental questions concerning:
who constitutes the electorate;
who qualifies as a delegate;
how delegates are selected;
how many delegates each faculty or constituency is entitled to;
whether ordinary members retain direct voting rights;
whether votes are weighted;
how Congress quorum is determined; and
how an electoral outcome is to represent the membership as a whole.
These are not merely technical or administrative matters. They concern the composition and democratic character of Congress.
Accordingly, the Committee should identify the precise constitutional provision upon which the proposed collegiate system is founded.
In the absence of such constitutional authority, the introduction of the system through administrative guidelines is subject to serious constitutional objection. We so object vehemently.
4. THE PROPOSED 325-DELEGATE LIMIT
We further demand clarification regarding the proposed restriction of Congress participation to 325 delegates.
The issue is not merely why the number is 325. The more fundamental question is:
Who authorised the Committee to determine that only 325 members or delegates should constitute or participate in Congress?
If the Constitution defines the composition or participation of Congress differently, a committee cannot, by guideline, substitute a different numerical composition for that provided by the Constitution.
Any restriction upon existing membership or voting rights must therefore have a clear constitutional foundation.
We are particularly concerned that an arrangement which excludes otherwise constitutionally entitled members from participation may have the practical effect of disenfranchising members from exercising rights conferred upon them by the Constitution.
We therefore strongly oppose any unconstitutional restriction of members’ rights.
5. THE PROPOSED ELECTORAL COMMITTEE (ELCOM)
We are equally concerned about the proposed Electoral Committee.
From the purported Guidelines, ELCOM appears to be entrusted with substantial functions, including:
receiving nominations;
screening candidates;
determining accreditation;
organising electronic voting;
receiving and determining complaints;
collating electoral results; and
declaring election results.
These are significant electoral powers.
We therefore call upon the Committee to disclose:
the constitutional provision establishing ELCOM;
the constitutional provision authorising its appointment;
the constitutional provision defining its powers;
the constitutional provision authorising it to screen candidates;
the constitutional provision authorising it to conduct electronic voting;
the constitutional provision authorising it to receive and determine electoral complaints; and
the constitutional provision authorising it to collate and declare the results of national elections.
If these powers are not contained in the Constitution, the legal basis upon which they are being created should be clearly stated with the constitutional framework
6. THE SUSPENSION OF THE ORIGINAL CONGRESS
We also consider it necessary to address the chronology of events.
The Congress was originally scheduled for 12th September 2026.
The Congress was subsequently suspended indefinitely by the Committee, following reasons given for that decision which, from our assessment, have not satisfactorily demonstrated a clear constitutional basis for such suspension.
Thereafter, proposed Guidelines emerged introducing significant new arrangements for the conduct of Congress and elections.
This sequence of events requires transparency and explanation.
We therefore demand disclosure of:
the constitutional provision under which the Congress scheduled for 12th September 2026 was suspended;
the organ or authority that authorised the suspension;
the reasons formally relied upon for the suspension;
the constitutional authority for subsequently introducing the proposed Guidelines; and
whether the proposed Guidelines were contemplated or authorised by the Constitution before the original Congress was suspended.
The membership deserves clear answers to these questions.
7. THIS IS AN OPPOSITION TO TECHNOLOGY OR VIRTUAL CONGRESS
For the avoidance of doubt, we state categorically that.
We are opposed to virtual / Congress
We are opposed to electronic communication/ Voting in the course of this Congress.
Our objection is to the use of administrative Guidelines to introduce substantive changes to the constitutional structure of the Association without first demonstrating the constitutional authority for those changes.
Technology may change the method by which members participate, more so that the proposed number of delegates does not reflect a true or correct percentage of the Alumnus.
It should not, without constitutional authority, change who has the right to participate, who constitutes Congress, who may vote, how votes are counted or how leadership is elected.
8. OUR DEMANDS/PRAYERS
In the interest of peace, transparency, legality, institutional stability and unity within the Association, we respectfully demand as follows:
First, that the purported Guidelines be suspended and withdrawn and that the Committee return to the extant constitutional framework for the conduct of Congress.
Second, that the Committee refrain from introducing any arrangement capable of frustrating or unlawfully restricting the constitutional rights of members.
Third, that the Committee identify the specific constitutional provisions upon which each major provision of the proposed Guidelines is founded.
Fourth, that the constitutional basis for the Faculty Based Collegiate System be disclosed. Obviously same is inconsistent with the law
Fifth, that the constitutional basis for limiting Congress participation to 325 delegates be disclosed. Afterall, it does not represent a true percentage of the total Alumnus.
Sixth, that the constitutional basis for the proposed accreditation requirements, quorum and electronic voting system be disclose.
Seventh, that the constitutional basis for establishing ELCOM and vesting it with the proposed electoral powers be disclosed.
Eighth, that the electoral process be free, fair, transparent and credible and conducted in accordance with the Constitution and applicable law guiding the Association
Ninth, that the implications of the Association’s status as an Incorporated Trustee and the applicable provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 (CAMA 2020) be duly observed.
Tenth, that no election be conducted under a Faculty.Based Collegiate System or any other newly created electoral structure unless and until its constitutional foundation has been clearly established.
9. OUR POSITION
Our position is simple and unequivocal:
The Constitution must govern the Congress; the Congress must not be governed by a committee created constitution.
No committee should be permitted to create, through administrative Guidelines, a constitutional structure that the Constitution itself does not contain or authorise.
The provisions of the Constitution should be adhered to strictly and faithfully.
It must not be achieved indirectly or through the back door by means of administrative Guidelines.
Where technological innovation is required, it should be introduced consistently with the existing constitutional rights of members and through whatever lawful amendment or approval process the Constitution requires.
Until such lawful process is completed, the extant Constitution remains the reference point for the conduct of Congress and elections.
It is now our demand too that the date proposed for the virtual Congress be postponed indefinitely until the questions are answered and the coast is clear.
10. CONCLUSION
The Chapter heartily appreciates the good intentions of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Salisu Ogbo Usman whose vision is to see a verile Alumni that will work assiduously with the University management. This vision should be translated to peaceful reconciliation and transition.
We therefore call on the Reconciliation/Congress Committee to suspend the implementation of the impugned Guidelines and provide members with the constitutional and legal foundation upon which they are predicated.
We further call upon all Chapters and members of the Alumni Association to insist upon:
transparency
due process
constitutional compliance
equal participation
credible elections, and
respect for the rights of every duly recognised member.
Our concern is not about personalities.
It is not about factions.
It is not about who wins or loses an election.
It is about whether the election itself is conducted under a framework that members of the Association are constitutionally bound to recognise.
Any decision, election or proceeding founded upon provisions that are inconsistent with, or unsupported by, the extant Constitution may be liable to constitutional and legal challenge.
The mere designation of such provisions as “Committee Guidelines” does not, by itself, confer constitutional validity upon them.
We therefore urge the Committee to return to the constitutional framework, disclose the legal authority for the proposed innovations, and ensure that the Congress scheduled for 26th September 2026 is shifted or conducted transparently, inclusively and strictly in accordance with the extant Constitution.
We remain committed to reconciliation, unity, credible leadership, constitutionalism and the continued progress of the Prince Abubakar Audu University Alumni Association.
This protest is made in good faith and in the collective interest of the Kogi State Chapter and other concerned Chapters and members, without prejudice to any further constitutional or legal steps that may become necessary.
Cc
The State Director
Department of State Security Services,
Kogi State
The Hon. Commissioner
Ministry of Education, Kogi state
The Vice chancellor (PAAU)
Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba
Kogi State
