NIGERIA: KYCA Moves To End Two-Year Leadership Crisis, Agrees on Elections And By-Elections

By Munyal Manunyi, Abuja, Nigeria

The Kamwe Youth Connect Association (KYCA), a youth cultural association from Michika, Adamawa State, with an international presence, has agreed on a framework to resolve its nearly two-year leadership crisis, with the association set to resume its electoral process for undisputed positions while disputed offices may be subjected to by-elections.

The resolution was reached on Saturday, via Google Meet at a negotiation meeting involving contestants and other electoral stakeholders aimed at resolving the leadership impasse that followed the 2024 KYCA election.

However, a communiqué issued by Nr. Reuben Zirahgi Markus, Founder of KYCA, made available to AFRICAN CULTURE TV, noted that most of the contestants agreed with the outcome of the negotiation.

According to him, the communiqué highlighted offices where contestants had reached consensus, adding that the association would proceed with the electoral process in accordance with the agreed arrangements and applicable electoral procedures.

Markus said: “The contestants in offices where disagreements remained would be given an opportunity to hold bilateral discussions to resolve the issues.

“Where, after the bilateral engagement, no acceptable resolution is reached, the affected office shall be declared vacant/dissolved for the purpose of conducting a by-election.”

Meanwhile, the stakeholders also resolved that the Electoral Committee should proceed with the Senate electoral process, noting that there was no outstanding disagreement concerning the Senate before the process was cancelled.

The Congress further agreed that the Electoral Committee should conduct the election of its principal officers.

For the executive positions, the communiqué noted offices where consensus had been reached would proceed to election, while positions where disagreements persisted after bilateral discussions would be opened for by-elections.

The negotiation meeting was led by Mr. Peter Dlama, who was identified as the lead of the negotiation process.

Other members of the negotiation team included: Rad Gamaliel Moses, Anthony Moses, Tuwanga Kwaha, Engr. Elisha Danga, Dr. Aminu Kamale, Nr. Ayam Samuel and Nr. Haruna Isah.

The communiqué also identified Nr. Reuben Zirahgi Markus as the founder of KYCA who introduced and initiated the negotiation process.

It further disclosed that the Caretaker President had resigned, adding to the need for a transition to a fully constituted and democratically elected leadership.

The leadership crisis has kept KYCA largely inactive for nearly two years following challenges arising from the 2024 election.

The stakeholders said the negotiation was intended to restore the association’s constitutional functioning and provide a pathway for the resumption of its electoral process.

They appealed to KYCA members, contestants, elders, the Board of Trustees, Electoral Committee and other stakeholders to support the process.