….affirm Ajanaku’s leadership

By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA – THE State Chairmen of the National Cashew Association, NCAN, Friday, disassociated themselves from an alleged inauguration of a National and State Executive Committee scheduled for 28 July 2026 at the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Abuja.

The declaration was contained in a jointly signed statement by the signed State Chairmen – Alh. Ichapi Muhammed Agala, Yough, Chairman (Kogi State-North-Central); Mrs. Bridget Mwuese, Chairperson (Benue State – North-Central); Mr. Alabi Bababtunde Dauda, Chairman (Kwara State – North –Central); Mr Adedokun Moses, Chairman (Osun State – South-West); Deacon. Aremu Adewale Ezekiel Chairman (Oyo State – South-West); Mallam Auwal Ahmed Sarki, Chairman (Kaduna State – North –West)’ Alh. Abdulmalik Ubandoma, Chairman (Kebbi State – North-West); and Mr. Osas Ojeikere, Chairman (Edo State – South-South).

The under-signed State Chairmen unequivocally said the notice of the alleged inauguration of the committee was not issued through the constitutional organs of NCAN, and therefore does not represent the Association or its lawful leadership.

According to them, the alleged move is not authorized and without any form of legitimacy as far as the NCAN Constitution is concerned hence it is purely a usurpation of the existing leadership of NCAN which they vehemently resist as no one individual or group can act in the name of NCAN.

The Chairmen also challenged whoever who went on to issue such a notice, saying such an individual or group is not acting on any interest of the Association because they do not have the “constitutional authority to act, issue official communications, convene meetings, or bind the National Cashew Association of Nigeria on any matter.”

The statement reads in part, “The undersigned State Chairmen of the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) have unanimously rejected the purported notice announcing an alleged inauguration of a National and State Executive Committee scheduled for 28 July 2026 at the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), Abuja.

“The State Chairmen state unequivocally that the notice was not issued through the constitutional organs of NCAN and therefore does not represent the Association or its lawful leadership.

“Accordingly, the proposed event is unauthorized, without constitutional mandate, and incapable of creating or conferring legitimate leadership on any individual or group acting in the name of NCAN.

“The Chairmen further state that the individual who issued the notice has no constitutional authority to act, issue official communications, convene meetings, or bind the National Cashew Association of Nigeria on any matter.”

Meanwhile, the state chairmen made their position known based on the existing NCAN Constitution, saying they reaffirm that, “Dr Ojo Joseph Ajanaku remains the duly elected and legitimate President of the National Cashew Association of Nigeria, with a tenure running until 2029.”

The Chairmen also reiterated that, “there has been no lawful constitutional process or valid transition capable of terminating that tenure or replacing the current leadership.

“Consequently, any purported inauguration or announcement seeking to constitute an alternative National Executive outside the Association’s constitutional processes does not represent NCAN and carries no institutional authority.”

The state chairmen, strongly emphasized that the use of the purported venue which is the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment does not in any way confer legitimacy of the alleged executive of NCAN on July 28, 2026.

“The use of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment as the proposed venue does not validate or legitimize the event.

“The selection of a government facility or the presence of public officials cannot confer legal or constitutional legitimacy upon an activity that has not been authorized by the Association’s duly constituted leadership.

Meanwhile, the state chairmen called on relevant stakeholders in both the public and private sectors including all government institutions, development partners, financial institutions, international organisations, members of the media, industry stakeholders, and the general public “to disregard the purported 28 July 2026 inauguration as an official activity of the National Cashew Association of Nigeria.”

The chairmen also reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the constitutional integrity, institutional identity, and lawful governance of NCAN, while remaining committed to unity, due process, and the continued advancement of Nigeria’s cashew industry.