Northern CAN Factions Disagrees Over Leadership
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has found itself entangled in a leadership dispute, with two factions vying for control. The disagreement centers on tenure elongation, as separate groups led by Rev. John Joseph Hayab and Rev. Yakubu Pam lay claim to the leadership of the association.
Rev. John Joseph Hayab has argued that the tenure of Rev. Yakubu Pam and his officials expired over two years ago. According to him, the constitutional provisions of CAN stipulate that the tenure of elected officials is limited, and therefore, the leadership led by Rev. Pam no longer holds legitimacy.
However, Rev. Yakubu Pam’s faction has dismissed these claims, maintaining that the election conducted in Abuja, which purportedly brought in a new leadership under Rev. Hayab, was not conducted through due process and should not be recognized. They have accused Rev. Hayab’s group of attempting to destabilize Northern CAN for personal and political gains.
Elder Sunday Oibe, the Secretary-General of CAN under Rev. Pam’s leadership, strongly condemned the actions of Rev. Hayab, describing them as a “religious coup.” According to Oibe, the self-proclaimed “Concerned Christian Elders of the North,” led by Hayab, arbitrarily convened a meeting and appointed themselves into leadership positions without proper engagement with the existing leadership of CAN.
“Their actions are fraudulent, illegal, crude, and self-serving,” Elder Oibe stated. He further emphasized that Rev. Pam remains the legitimate Chairman of Northern CAN and that the association has been undergoing a bylaw review process, which is why elections were delayed. He explained that the National Executive Council (NEC) had agreed that leadership changes should not occur in the middle of this critical process.
According to Elder Oibe, the bylaw review process began in 2024 but was delayed due to the expiration of some state chairmen’s tenures. As a result, there was a need to allow state elections to be conducted first before moving forward with the review at the national level. Despite Rev. Pam’s insistence on conducting elections, the NEC resolved that he should see the process through before stepping down.
On January 20, 2025, the NEC convened in Kaduna, officially passing the newly drafted bylaws. During this meeting, Rev. Pam assured members that once the bylaws were printed and dedicated, he would announce a date for elections and transition the leadership.
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Meanwhile, Rev. Hayab has remained resolute in his stance, insisting that the tenure of Rev. Yakubu Pam and his officials expired over two years ago. He argued that the leadership was re-elected in 2019 for a three-year term, meaning their mandate ended in 2022. Therefore, in his view, they have overstayed their tenure and should not be involved in the CAN election process.
“We are now in 2025, and instead of addressing the core issue of tenure expiration, they are resorting to name-calling and insults. We will not be dragged into unnecessary conflicts but will continue to do the right thing for the development and progress of Northern CAN,” Rev. Hayab stated.
He also dismissed allegations that he was previously suspended from the association or had used CAN for selfish purposes. He maintained that his leadership is focused on upholding the integrity of the Christian community in the North.
The ongoing leadership tussle has raised concerns about unity within Northern CAN, with both sides calling for support from members. While Rev. Pam’s faction insists on following due process and maintaining stability within the organization, Rev. Hayab’s group argues that the delay in conducting fresh elections is unconstitutional.
As the situation unfolds, Christian leaders and stakeholders in the region are calling for a peaceful resolution to prevent further division within the association. The need for dialogue and adherence to CAN’s constitutional guidelines has been emphasized to ensure that the leadership crisis does not affect the organization’s primary mission of promoting Christian unity and advocacy in Northern Nigeria.
SOURCE: https://www.vanguardngr.com/
Content Credit| Oyedepo Oluwafifiedoyinsola
Picture Credit | https://www.aciafrica.org/
