By CrossRiverWatch Admin
A power struggle is brewing within the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN as a group of zonal and former state executives has rejected the emergence of Mr. Adodo Solomon as the council’s national president.
The group, led by Chidebere Kanu, NYCN Advisory Council Chairman for the South-East Zone, and Solomon Praise, former Vice President, South-South told newsmen on Thursday in Calabar, the Cross River State Capital that Ambassador Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo remains the duly elected national president.
Kanu described Adodo’s declaration as an affront to the council’s constitutional, hence it is null and void. He accused Mr. Adodo of fraud.
Constitutional Crisis?
“Adodo’s declaration is null and void. There was no congress, no election, and no mandate given to him. It is an affront to the council’s constitution and to the integrity of Nigerian youths,” Kanu said.
“Many individuals whose names appeared on that list have reached out to us in shock. They were neither informed nor involved. This is nothing short of fraud,” he added.
He stressed that only a properly constituted national congress can usher in a new leadership. And, with the next congress scheduled for September 2025, “Sukubo remains the authentic president. Any other claim is a distraction and a dangerous precedent,” he said.
Unity and Integrity at Stake – Solomon Praise
For Ms Praise, Mr. Adodo’s actions is a “desperate hijack attempt,” warning that such moves could undermine the unity and integrity of the NYCN.
“We are not opposed to change, but it must follow due process. What we are seeing is a politically motivated power grab that must be rejected by all genuine stakeholders,” she said.
The Call for Action
Former Social Secretary, Emma Takon called on the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development to uphold the council’s constitution and refrain from recognizing any parallel leadership and prayed the public to do the same as the council belongs to all youths.
“This is nothing short of an attempted coup in our youth structure. NYCN belongs to all Nigerian youths, not a select few or a political cabal,” he said.