Following the outcome of the Ikwo Noyo Youth Consultative Forum quarterly general meeting held in March, 2025, where instead of setting up electoral Committee to conduct the Forum election in June, 2025, the Executive under the leadership of Dr. Onyechi Nwankwo decided to illegally amend/alter the forum constitution to allow him continue as the President. At the meeting and through the influence of the State Commissioner for Justice who gave a twist explanation that constitution can be altered at anytime but can't be amended easily, they jointly motioned and set up what they called constitution alteration committee made up of three or more sound lawyers and other members.
Some individuals and Alike Ikwo Youth Forum in particular *(CAC Registered Youth Forum of Alike community)* raised concerns on what such actions if allowed might cause not only at present, but also in future for the forum. The group wrote a well worded complaint letter to the forum BoT, copied the Executive, Legal team of the forum and major stakeholders of Ikwo, calling for IKwo Noyo Youth Consultative Forum constitution to be respected and for the current leadership to stop the move to amend the constitution when they have just two months to leave office. Unfortunately, the complaint letter was ignored by the forum and stakeholders who were copied.
The leadership rather than attending to the complaint, resorted to blackmail, divide and rule and peddling of falsehood against those who are not in support of their move to illegally alter the constitution.
On 3rd July 2025, an emergency general meeting was called to adopt the alterations made on *Sections 16(d), 16(e) and 18(2)* of the constitution and to illegally set up Electoral Committee to conduct election in less than one week.
Now, the illegally constituted Electoral Committee has published their guidelines and fixed the election to hold on 12th July, 2025.
SOME CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS THAT WERE AND ARE BEING VIOLATED:
The current Constitution came into effect on February, 2022. Same constitution provides that it can be altered/amended after *four years* by a motion moved, seconded and adopted by 2/3 majority of registered members present at Annual General Meeting (AGM) which is held every 27th December annually. These and more areas were blatantly violated by the Current leadership and their sponsors.
Secondly, electoral Committee and Election is supposed to be done at least three months to the expiration of the current Executive and the process should be jointly set in motion by the Executive and the BoT. These were not followed, among other constitutional breaches.
Below are some important sections of the Forum Constitution we need to know.
Section 13(6) States that the Forum AGM shall hold every 27th December annually. So, the motion to amend or alter sections of the constitution was done in a quarterly meeting and not at AGM.
Section 6(1)*of the Constitution states that; The Tenure of all elected Executive shall be three years ONLY.
(That has not changed even in the said alterations.)
*Section 17(6)* States; Elective position shall be rotational to all five principle communities at every election
*Section 17 (7)* The office of the President shall be rotated in turn; in order of seniority and shall be so revolved from time to time at every given election
*Section 18(1)* of the constitution clearly states that; The Tenure of every elected officer shall be for the period of three years *ONLY*
*Section 18(2)* Officers in other positions maybe re-elected to serve in other positions other than the current position they currently concluded, but the outgone President and secretary shall not contest or be re-elected into their positions.
ON ABUSE OR VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION
*Section 22(vi)* clearly states that a member including Executive shall be suspended or expelled where he blantely violate any provisions of the constitution . *(The Current Executive have done that severally)*
*Section 24* provides that a member who is not satisfied with any action of the forum should first lay a complaint and if not satisfied can still ventilate his anger in the court of law. *(Our next move might be to approach the Court of law to interpret the forum constitution and actions of the Executive)*
ON ALTERATION OR AMENDMENT
*Section 25(2) clearly states;* No Addition *Alteration*, or amendment shall be made to or in the constitution for the time being in force, unless the same have been previously submitted to and approved by Registrar-General of CAC
(No recourse to the above provision, yet they said they have altered the constitution)
*Section 30(1)* says; This Constitution or any of its provisions shall be amended or altered after four years through a motion supported by 2/3 majority of the members of the association voting in an AGM (27th December annually)
*Section 30(ii)* The Constitution shall not be ammended or altered within four (4) years of it's operation
CONCERNING ELECTION AND ELECTORAL COMMITTEE
*Section 17(3)* States that Electoral Committee shall be formed upon confirmation of the nominees by the BoT members.
*Section 17(12)* It shall be the responsibility of BoT members representing a Principal Community to convene a meeting of all registered youth stakeholders with the view to nominating the due candidates that shall stand in for the election from each community.
WHY WE ARE CONCERNED
1. We are concerned that the Constitution of Ikwo Noyo Youth Consultative Forum has been abused by the current leadership against the major objectives of the forum
2. We are concerned about the future of the forum and it's image before elders, outsiders and younger ones who looks up to it as a breeding field for future leaders and a platform for positive reforms in Ikwo Noyo Clan
3. No doubt, every member of the forum sincerely appreciate the sacrifices and leadership qualities of the current President, Dr. Onyechi Nwankwo. However, we are worried that he is now rewarding himself through illegality and wrong example of how not to be a selfish leader. Future leaders of the forum might follow his negative steps by also violating the constitution to suit their interests or remain in office since nobody resisted the first elected president's illegal and unconstitutional actions
4. Yes, the president deserves great commendation and rewards, but don't we have other ways to do it? Does that mean subsequent leaders will continue to extend their tenures at dying minutes, especially if they are doing well
5. We are concerned that our stakeholders and the BoT kept mute instead of condemning the illegalities and abuse of the constitution by the current leadership. An action which if not stopped might cause crises in future.
6. Finally, we are not against anybody or anyone's ambition. We are simply saying that Ikwo Noyo Youth Consultative Forum and it's constitution should be respected and that the right thing should be done for posterity sake and to maintain the good name and image of the forum.
Signed by:
We are Concerned Members of Ikwo Noyo Youth Consultative Forum
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