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"What Was Suspended? Confusion as President Halts Protocol Without Clarity and Vanishes"

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In what was expected to be a smooth congressional sitting of the National Association of Public Administration Students (NAPAS), Obafemi Awolowo University, the June 2nd session quickly spiraled into a storm of confusion, constitutional controversy, and procedural uncertainty — further aggravated by a troublingly low turnout.

The meeting kicked off at exactly 3:20 PM with an opening prayer by Congressman Samuel. The tension, however, wasn’t far behind. In a move that stunned the house, the presiding officer — NAPAS President himself — proposed the suspension of a constitutional provision: the section enforcing quorum. His proposal was immediately challenged by Congresswoman Shukroh Adebayo, who argued that the issue was not constitutional enforcement but the poor attendance itself, suggesting instead that the meeting be suspended.

Congressman Emmanuel responded with constitutional clarity, emphasizing that no part of the NAPAS constitution could be suspended under any circumstance. “The constitution is supreme,” he reminded the house, urging the President to retract his proposal. However, the President stood his ground and did not withdraw the motion, leaving the house visibly unsettled.

Still, discontent continued to bubble. With empty seats and whispered frustrations, members questioned the legitimacy of the meeting, some calling for its cancellation altogether due to the dismal turnout.

Matters escalated when it was noted that the General Secretary had neither written the agenda on the board nor adhered to the formal mode of address. Though the President tried to defend the oversight — claiming the agenda had been posted on the association’s group chat — the house insisted on due process. The Secretary eventually took a marker and listed the agenda on the board, bringing partial calm to the house. The school anthem was also sung, not at the President’s prompting, but at the demand of the floor — a stark reminder that protocol must be observed regardless of attendance.

Then came another shock: the President announced the suspension of a certain protocol, but failed to fully explain which one or under what authority. The motion was moved by the PLO and seconded by the Treasurer. Following this vague announcement, the President abruptly exited the congress, leaving the Vice President to take over — a move that triggered loud disapproval.

Congressman Emmanuel immediately moved a motion demanding a formal apology from the President for unilaterally initiating the suspension of protocol without clarity and for abandoning his post mid-session. The motion was seconded by Congresswoman Shukroh but met stiff resistance from Congressman Samuel and Congresswoman Eniola. The resulting debate was heated. In the end, a vote was held and the motion failed.

The Vice President then attempted to proceed with the agenda. He informed the house that the registration link for the upcoming AIPAs conference had been shared to all classes and warned that no student would be granted entry without registration. He also stated that aspirants for departmental posts must have attended at least two congress sittings, both at departmental and faculty levels — a claim quickly countered by Congressman Emmanuel, who pointed out that departmental attendance bears no consequence on faculty-level positions. The Vice President acknowledged the error and retracted the statement.

While the Vice President made visible efforts to steer the congress forward, it was evident that he lacked a firm grasp of congressional procedures and expectations — further underlining the growing cracks in student leadership.

With no further matters arising or AOB, the congress was adjourned at 4:16 PM by Congressman Emmanuel and seconded by Congresswoman Shukroh at 4:17 PM. A closing prayer by a freshman congresswoman marked the official end of the sitting at 4:20 PM.

From constitutional stumbles to lapses in leadership, this congress served less as a deliberative forum and more as a cautionary tale. With the Public Administration Week still unfolding, NAPAS must decide: will it course-correct — or continue to blur the lines between authority and accountability?

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