NAPTAN leadership crisis deepens as national body disowns rival executive

The leadership crisis within the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) has deepened, with its national leadership disowning a rival executive.

NAPTAN National President, Prof. Boniface Odeh, and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Mr Adeolu Ogunbanjo, stated this in a jointly signed statement on Friday in Lagos.

The officials alleged that a faction led by Mr Innocent Uche, Alhaji Haruna Danjuma and Dr Ademola Ekundayo had been parading itself as NAPTAN’s National Executive Committee.

They said the faction had no official recognition from the association, insisting that Odeh remained NAPTAN’s recognised National President.

The leaders also described Ekundayo’s purported representation of Osun State NAPTAN and claim to the Vice Presidency as illegitimate.

They alleged that Ekundayo had been disowned by the Osun State Ministry of Education and barred by a court from participating in NAPTAN elections or activities.

They further alleged that a letter purportedly signed for the Permanent Secretary, Osun Ministry of Education, and presented by Ekundayo had subsequently been disclaimed.

“Dr Ekundayo has been officially disowned by the Osun State Ministry of Education and he is not recognised by the national body of NAPTAN,” they stated.

According to them, the Federal Ministry of Education, acting on the Osun Ministry’s directive, disregarded the disputed letter and cancelled an election promoted by the faction.

The leaders alleged that in spite of the cancellation, Ekundayo appeared at the venue with persons he presented as NAPTAN members from Osun, further escalating the dispute.

The NAPTAN leadership also questioned Danjuma’s continued claim to the national presidency, alleging that he had remained in office for more than 20 years.

It said such tenure was contrary to provisions of NAPTAN’s current constitution governing the association’s leadership.

The leaders urged education commissioners, parents, school administrators and other stakeholders to exercise caution over communications from the disputed faction.

They advised stakeholders to disregard communications or transactions emanating from the group until the leadership dispute was resolved.

The national leadership said resolving the disagreement was necessary to protect NAPTAN’s credibility and sustain its role in Nigeria’s education sector.

Efforts to obtain Danjuma’s reaction proved abortive, as he did not respond to calls seeking his comments on the allegations.