Doctors call for transparency in NMA election

Ahead of the forthcoming state elections of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), doctors in Lagos State have called for a transparent, free, fair, and credible electoral process.

Dr. Mario Adelaja, a former National Executive Council (NEC) member of the NMA, made the appeal in a statement on Sunday in Lagos.

Supreme News reports that state elections are held once every two years in all NMA state chapters, within three months of the NMA national elections.

The NMA Lagos Elections are scheduled for Aug. 1 at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos.

Adelaja urged the leadership of NMA Lagos, led by Dr. Babajide Saheed, to allay the fears of members by ensuring a transparent electoral process to achieve a credible and rancour-free election.

“It is about two weeks to the elections and by now we expect clear-cut guidelines from the Secretariat, information on state of preparedness, including the voters list and security plans for the physical election.

“Fear is heightened knowing that the Chairman, Dr Saheed, is a contestant and an interested party in the election.

“His level of involvement we believe can affect the credibility of the elections if the guidelines are not well spelt out early enough for every doctor in the state to see and agree on,” he said.

He noted that the concern was coming on the heels of the experience of the rancorous 2016 elections, which caused sharp division among the rank and file of medical and dental practitioners in Lagos state.

Adelaja, former Chairman, E-medicine IT Committee, NMA Lagos, stressed that doctors in the state are opposed to the recurrence of such rancorous elections.

“We are, however, not unaware of the handwritings on the wall of some of the dramatis personae of the 2016 ignominious election trying to raise their ugly heads and scuttle this election.

“We call on the Chairman and the Secretary to be eternally vigilant and act as unbiased umpires, refusing to be used by these manipulators.

“We are looking forward to a free, fair, and credible election with a peaceful transition in the forthcoming election,” he said.

He expressed optimism that the election would usher in new leadership in the association that would project her to greater heights.

“Our expectations are very high because the leadership of our prestigious association has a critical role to play in the deliverables of our health systems.

“We want the best health indices for the state and, by extension, the country. As consummate professionals, we will continue to lead by example,” Adelaja said.