The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has suspended the activities of its Alumni Association (NOUNAA) and the October 10, 2026 election following petitions alleging certificate forgery, certificate racketeering and other irregularities within the association.

The university also directed the current NOUNAA executive committee to suspend its activities at the national, state and other levels pending an investigation into the allegations.

However, NOUNAA National President, Ifeanyi Obukwelu, has rejected the suspension of the association’s activities and election, insisting that the October 10 poll will proceed in line with the association’s constitution and timetable announced by its Electoral Committee.

The university’s position was contained in a letter signed by the Registrar and Secretary to the Council, Oladipo Ajayi, and addressed to Obukwelu.

The letter, dated September 21, 2026, with reference number NOUN/REG/NAA/303/VOL.11/198, said the petitions were considered at the university’s 124th Regular Meeting.

According to the university, the petitions contained allegations of certificate forgery, certificate racketeering and other matters involving the NOUNAA president and members of the executive committee.

It said the petitions also raised concerns over the alleged participation of persons who were not graduates of NOUN in the affairs of the association, including questions about their eligibility to vote, contest elections and occupy leadership positions.

The university said the allegations required proper and impartial investigation and determination, stressing that they should not be treated as established facts before the conclusion of the process.

Management said it had a responsibility, as custodian of the university’s institutional integrity and reputation, to take appropriate administrative measures rather than allow the issues to continue without scrutiny.

It therefore ordered the immediate suspension of all processes relating to the October 10 election.

The university also directed the suspension of the activities of the current NOUNAA executive committee across the national body, state chapters and other arms of the association.

It said a committee would be constituted to investigate the allegations against the national president and members of the executive committee.

The investigation is expected to examine the claims of certificate forgery and racketeering, the eligibility and participation of alleged non-graduates in the association’s affairs, as well as other matters raised against the executive committee.

The university further directed Obukwelu to cease participating in the Governing Council proceedings in his capacity as NOUNAA president pending the determination of the matter.

But Obukwelu, in an internal memo dated September 30, 2026, maintained that the October 10 election would go ahead despite the university’s directive.

The memo, with reference number NOUNAA/NEC/23/T/005, said the association had responded to the university through its solicitors.

He noted that the university itself described the issues raised in the petitions as allegations requiring proper and impartial investigation, rather than established facts.

The NOUNAA president questioned the suspension of the association’s activities and electoral process, arguing that the affected officers should be given an opportunity to respond to the allegations.

He said the association was not opposed to transparency, accountability or a lawful investigation, but was seeking fairness and due process.

According to him, NOUNAA’s solicitors argued that the university’s decision appeared to have been reached without giving the affected officers or the association a fair and reasonable opportunity to respond.

The lawyers, he said, also maintained that NOUNAA was an independently incorporated body whose governance and elections were regulated by its constitution and applicable laws.

Obukwelu said the solicitors had requested that the petitions and accompanying materials be made available to the affected officers and that they be allowed to respond before any definitive action was taken.

He added that the lawyers had appealed to the university to resolve the matter amicably, fairly and expeditiously.

On the suspended election, Obukwelu said the association’s position was that the electoral process should continue while the issues raised by the university were addressed through appropriate legal and institutional channels.

He maintained that NOUNAA was an independently incorporated body and that its internal governance and elections were governed by its constitution and applicable laws.

Obukwelu urged members not to allow the dispute or electoral ambitions to divide the association, saying disagreements should be addressed constitutionally and peacefully.

He also called on members and delegates to remain calm and law-abiding and urged eligible delegates to participate peacefully in the election and vote according to their conscience.

He said allegations should not be treated as proof of guilt before an investigation and that affected individuals should be given the opportunity to present their cases.

Obukwelu maintained that the association’s unity and integrity should remain paramount despite the dispute. (The Guardian)

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