CAN States Position On Emergence Of Daniel Okoh As Its New President

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) says Most Rev. Daniel Okoh has not been officially confirmed as the new president of the Christian umbrella body.

The clarification was made in a statement on Tuesday by the media assistant to the incumbent CAN president, His Eminence, Rev Dr Samson Ayokunle, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji.

According to Oladeji, the National Executive Council and the General Assembly must ratify the nomination of the candidate before the new President emerges.

While acknowledging that Reverend Okoh emerged the candidate from the Electoral College, Pastor Oladeji added that the process for his ratification is still ongoing and won’t be completed until Thursday.

He urged members of the public to stop misinterpreting a statement from CAN’s General Secretary, Barrister Joseph Daramola which is just an invitation to the members of the National Executive Council and the blocs’ leaders of the Association to complete the process for the emergence of a new CAN President.

The media aide noted that the new CAN President will be officially announced on Thursday, July 28, Naija News reports.

The statement by Oladeji reads: “The attention of the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has been drawn to the story going the rounds that the Most Rev. Daniel Okoh has emerged the new President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

“According to reports, the announcement is contained in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja by the CAN’s General Secretary, Barrister Joseph Daramola. Nothing can be farther from the truth.

“For the record, Daramola is not the spokesman of the Association but the General Secretary. 

“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. 

“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. 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.”

Going further, he went into an in-depth explanation of how a new CAN President emerges. In his words, “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.”