State chairmen of the National Cashew Association of Nigeria(NCAN )have unanimously rejected a purported notice announcing the inauguration of a National and State Executive Committee scheduled for July 28, 2026, at the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Abuja.
The chairmen described the proposed inauguration as unconstitutional, unauthorised and incapable of producing a legitimate leadership for the association.
The position was contained in a joint statement signed by chairmen from Kogi, Benue, Kwara, Osun, Oyo, Kaduna, Enugu, Imo, Kebbi and Edo states and made available to journalists in Abuja on Friday.
The state chairmen said the notice for the planned inauguration did not emanate from the constitutional organs of the association and, therefore, could not be regarded as an official communication of the National Cashew Association of Nigeria.
They said, “The proposed event is unauthorised, 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 alleged that the individual behind the notice lacked the constitutional authority to issue official communications, convene meetings or act on behalf of the association.
Reaffirming the association’s leadership structure, they maintained that Dr Ojo Joseph Ajanaku remained the duly elected President of NCAN, with a tenure that runs until 2029.
According to them, no constitutional process has taken place to terminate his tenure or install another leadership.
The statement stated that , “There has been no lawful constitutional process or valid transition capable of terminating that tenure or replacing the current leadership.”
The chairmen also dismissed suggestions that holding the event at the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment would give it official recognition.
The statement argued that the use of a government facility or the presence of public officials could not legitimise an exercise that lacked constitutional approval from the association.
“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 authorised by the Association’s duly constituted leadership,” they said.
“We urged government institutions, development partners, financial institutions, international organisations, the media and stakeholders in the cashew industry to disregard the planned inauguration.”
The statement stressed that only communications issued through the lawful organs of NCAN should be recognised, while reaffirming their commitment to protecting the association’s constitutional integrity, lawful governance and the continued development of Nigeria’s cashew industry.
