The Lagos State chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association has dismissed its Chairman, Babajide Saheed, following a resolution reached during an Emergency General Meeting conducted on Saturday in Lagos.
As a result, the association’s previous 1st Vice-Chairman, Temidire Ewonowo, has taken office as the new chairman in accordance with the stipulations of the NMA constitution.
The resolution to dismiss Saheed was made through a confidential ballot by association members, after allegations of recurrent breaches of the organization’s guidelines and protocols.
Commenting on the situation, Ewonowo detailed various infractions that prompted the former chairman’s dismissal, including his neglect to call for an Emergency General Meeting within seven days after receiving a request from affiliate leaders and members.
In his words, other violations included exiting a duly convened Emergency General Meeting on January 13, 2026, and providing a delegate list that lacked approval from the same congress.
He also charged the former chairman with directing members to a disciplinary committee based on what he termed an baseless decision that was never established at either the State Executive Council Meeting or the Emergency General Meeting.
“Previously, I was the 1st vice-chairman.
“The former chairman was issued a letter by the affiliate leaders to present his perspective on the matters regarding some of these constitutional violations within a timeframe of seven days, as specified in the constitution. He did not respond.
“There exists a timeframe of three days that an emergency meeting should occur. Due to its inability to convene, which is today, it was based on and aligned with our guidelines that the congress, along with the affiliate heads, decided that the former chairman be dismissed from his position.
“Thus, I am now the new NMA chairman.
“This is because section eight of section one of the NMA guidelines unequivocally states that if the chairman is removed from office, the 1st vice-chairman shall step in as chairman,” he remarked.
Ewonowo asserted that the process adhered completely to the association’s constitution, emphasizing that the necessary quorum for such a resolution was achieved.
He revealed that the meeting had 112 members and nine affiliate leaders present, exceeding the minimum requirement of three affiliate leaders and 30 members.
As per him, 93 members voted in support of the dismissal, while four opposed the motion and three votes were deemed invalid.
He further stressed that the Emergency General Meeting is the paramount decision-making body of the association.
