The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has suspended the activities of its Alumni Association (NOUNAA) and halted its October 10, 2026 election following petitions alleging certificate forgery, certificate racketeering and other irregularities within the association.
The university also directed the NOUNAA national executive and its state chapters to suspend their activities pending an investigation into the allegations.
However, NOUNAA National President, Ifeanyi Obukwelu, has rejected the directive, insisting that the association’s scheduled election will proceed on October 10 in accordance with its constitution and the timetable issued by its Electoral Committee.
The university’s decision was conveyed in a letter signed by its Registrar and Secretary to the Council, Oladipo Ajayi, and addressed to Obukwelu.
Dated September 21, 2026, and referenced NOUN/REG/NAA/303/VOL.11/198, the letter stated that the petitions were considered at the university’s 124th Regular Meeting.
According to the university, the petitions raised allegations against Obukwelu and members of the NOUNAA executive, including claims of certificate forgery and racketeering.
The petitions also questioned the involvement of individuals allegedly not graduated from NOUN in the affairs of the alumni association, particularly their eligibility to vote, contest elections or hold leadership positions.
NOUN stressed that the claims remained allegations requiring investigation and should not be treated as established facts before the process is concluded.
The university said the decision to suspend the association’s activities was necessary to protect its institutional integrity and reputation while the allegations were being examined.
Management consequently ordered an immediate halt to all activities connected with the October 10 election.
It also directed the current NOUNAA executive committee to cease operations at the national, state and other levels until the conclusion of the investigation.
NOUN said a committee would be constituted to examine the allegations against the national president and other members of the executive committee.
The probe is expected to consider the claims relating to certificate forgery and racketeering, the eligibility of alleged non-graduates participating in the association’s affairs and other issues contained in the petitions.
The university further directed Obukwelu to stop participating in Governing Council proceedings in his capacity as NOUNAA president pending the outcome of the matter.
But in a September 30 internal memo to members, Obukwelu said the association would not comply with the suspension of the October 10 election.
The memo, referenced NOUNAA/NEC/23/T/005, stated that NOUNAA had responded to the university through its solicitors and maintained that the allegations should be subjected to a fair and transparent process.
Obukwelu pointed to the university’s own description of the allegations as matters requiring investigation, arguing that the claims had not been established against him or the other affected officers.
He questioned the decision to suspend the association and its electoral process before giving the affected officers a full opportunity to respond to the petitions and the materials supporting them.
According to him, NOUNAA’s lawyers had argued that the university’s action appeared to have been taken without affording the association and the affected officers a fair and reasonable opportunity to be heard.
The lawyers also maintained that NOUNAA is an independently incorporated body whose internal governance and electoral processes are regulated by its constitution and applicable laws.
Obukwelu said the association had asked the university to provide copies of the petitions and accompanying documents to enable the affected officers properly respond to the allegations.
He said the lawyers had also appealed for an amicable and expeditious resolution of the dispute while allowing due process to take its course.
On the October 10 election, the NOUNAA president maintained that the electoral process should continue while the issues raised by the university are addressed through the appropriate legal and institutional channels.
He urged members not to allow the dispute to deepen divisions within the association, calling for restraint and adherence to its constitution.
Obukwelu also urged delegates to remain calm and law-abiding, and encouraged eligible members to participate peacefully in the election and vote according to their conscience.
He reiterated that allegations should not be regarded as proof of wrongdoing until they are established through a proper investigation, stressing the need to give all affected individuals an opportunity to present their defence.
The dispute now places the university’s directive against the alumni association’s insistence on proceeding with its election, with the outcome of the proposed investigation likely to determine the next phase of the controversy.
