NAPTAN election remains suspended pending genuine reconciliation – Official

The planned national election of the National Parent Teachers Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) has been suspended indefinitely, following noticeable violations of the association’s constitution.

The election, originally scheduled for Wednesday by the leadership of Alhaji Haruna Danjuma and Dr Ekunday Ademola in Abuja, was supposed to be supervised by the Federal Ministry of Education, but the Danjuma-led faction, reportedly “contravened a key provision that mandates the NAPTAN elections to hold only between April and May.”

Blueprint learnt that, following the division among the parents and the NAPTAN leadership, the meeting arranged to elect the new exco was aborted abruptly.

Speaking after the botched election, NAPTAN Desk Officer, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Joseph Achede, confirmed the continued stay in office of the current leadership, led by Alhaji Haruna Danjuma, in contradiction with the association’s rule, which prescribes a single tenure of four years for its executives,

It was also learnt that the present leadership of NAPTAN has been in office for over 20 years, a case which has polarized the membership of the national body.

“Until both parties reconcile and follow due process, no election will be recognized. Any election conducted outside the Federal Ministry of Education’s supervision is null and void,” Achede declared.

He said, following the botched election, what is advisable is for both factions to return to dialogue and reconcile their differences for a credible NAPTAN leadership to be emplaced.

According to the NAPTAN desk officer, “With major education reforms and 2027 policy engagements ahead, stakeholders must unite for a constitutionally compliant NAPTAN, which is critical to representing parents effectively.”