Okoh: We Are Yet To Complete The Process For A New CAN President — Ayokunle

By Daniel Dafe

President, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, His Eminence, Rev Dr Samson Ayokunle, has said that the process to get a new President for the body was yet to be concluded.

This was contained in a statement on Monday, signed by his Media Assistant, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji.

Recall that Oasis Magazine had reported the announcement of Most Rev Daniel Okoh as the new president as contained in a statement by CAN’s General Secretary, Barrister Joseph Daramola.

But, the outgoing president opined that “Daramola is not the spokesman of the Association but the General Secretary.”

Adding: “The letter being referred to was the Invitation Letter sent to the members of the National Executive Council and the blocs’ leaders of the Association to complete the process that will lead to the emergence of the new President.”

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Ayokunle noted that “according to the CAN’s Constitution, Article 17 (9) viii-xi, the National Executive Council and the General Assembly must ratify the nomination of the candidate before the new President emerges. So, the process is still ongoing and it will be completed on Thursday.”

The statement continued: “It is true that the Most Rev Okoh has emerged the candidate from the Electoral College but this must be ratified by the National Executive Council and the General Assembly.
Perhaps, it is imperative to state what the Constitution says about the remaining process:
According to Article 17 (9) (viii), “The candidate who secures majority vote of the Electoral College for each office shall be recommended to the National Executive Council.”
Article 17 (9) ix states “The National Executive Council shall accept the recommended candidates for the offices of the President and the Vice President and present them to the General Assembly for ratification by the majority of votes of those qualified to vote at the General Assembly.”
Article 17 (9) x states, “In the event that any candidate fails to secure the majority vote of the General Assembly, the procedure in paragraphs (4), (5), (6), and (8) herein shall be repeated by the Electoral College to reconsider the suitability or otherwise of all the candidates based upon the reasons adduced by those who opposed the candidature. The Electoral College may or may not substitute any candidate for any position based on majority vote of its members.”
Article 17 (9) xi states, “In the event of a deadlock in which case the candidate represented is rejected by the General Assembly, a combined meeting of the Electoral College and the President-in-Council of the Association will examine the issue(s) and make a final choice from all the nominated candidates for the office.”

He also disclosed that “CAN is scheduled to hold its General Assembly on July 28 which where the new President will be made known to the public.”