The Nigerian Medical Association has warned state branches of the association to henceforth comply strictly with values that would protect the rights of members seeking elective offices in the association.
The President of the association, Prof. Innocent Ujah, gave the warning in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday.
Ujah said that state branches of the association that had yet to conduct their elections must ensure that democratic values were upheld to protect the inalienable rights of members.
“We want to reiterate our belief in the sacred democratic values of fairness and exploring the constitutional measures available for conflict resolution..”
He said that national officers of the association were not unaware of the electoral violence in Enugu during an election of the Enugu State Branch of the association.
The president said that images emanating from the election had portrayed the association in bad light, noting that the national secretariat of the body had stepped into the matter.
“It is instructive to note that as the foremost professional body in the country, we condemn in its entirety all forms of electoral violence.
“Electoral violence of any form does not represent what we stand for as Nigerian doctors and it is clearly at variance with our ideals and ethos.”
According to him, the association believes in the sanctity of the ballot and members must therefore, be allowed to exercise their franchise through a free, fair and credible process, devoid of any form of rancor or violence.
He said that as members of the profession, member must continue to exhibit the highest levels of decorum in all affairs of the association, including before, during and after elections.
“The NMA leadership assured all members that we as an association will not fold our arms and allow a few persons to bring us to disrepute.’’
Ujah said that the association would deliberate on the cases during its next National Executive Council meeting, scheduled for August 27 to 30.
He assured that the case would be thoroughly investigated and that all those found culpable would be brought to book to serve as deterrent to others. (NAN)
