The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has halted activities of its Alumni Association, including the scheduled October 10, 2026 election, following petitions alleging certificate forgery, certificate racketeering and other irregularities within the association.
The suspension also affects the current executive committees of the National Open University of Nigeria Alumni Association (NOUNAA) at the national, state and other levels. The university said the decision was reached after management considered petitions at its 124th Regular Meeting held on September 21.
In a letter signed by the university’s Registrar and Secretary to the Governing Council, Oladipo Ajayi, and addressed to NOUNAA National President Ifeanyi Obukwelu, the institution said the complaints raised serious concerns involving the association’s leadership.
Among the issues cited were allegations of forged certificates and the involvement of individuals said not to be graduates of the university in the association’s activities.
The petitions reportedly questioned whether such individuals were qualified to vote, contest elections or occupy leadership positions within NOUNAA. However, the university stressed that the allegations remained unproven and should be subjected to a fair and impartial investigation.
NOUN consequently ordered an immediate suspension of all arrangements for the October 10 election and announced plans to establish an investigative committee. The committee is expected to examine the certificate-related allegations, membership and eligibility concerns, as well as other issues raised against the association’s executive committee, before submitting its recommendations to management.
The university also directed Obukwelu to cease participating in Governing Council proceedings as the alumni association’s representative pending the resolution of the matter.
Despite the directive, Obukwelu has insisted that the election process should continue. In a September 30 internal memorandum, he said the association had responded through its lawyers and requested that the affected officials be given an opportunity to answer the allegations in accordance with due process.
According to Obukwelu, NOUNAA’s legal representatives also argued that the association has a separate legal identity as an Incorporated Trustee under the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020, as amended. He maintained that the electoral process should proceed in line with the association’s constitution and the timetable released by its Electoral Committee.
The dispute has now cast uncertainty over the October 10 election, with the university maintaining its suspension while the alumni association challenges the decision through its legal representatives. Both sides have emphasised the need for due process as the allegations remain subject to investigation.