A fierce leadership clash has erupted within the Delta State wing of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), as the state chairman, Mrs. Precious Young has openly rejected the suspension announced by Dr. Ochuko Akpeme and accused him of waging a personal power struggle against the state executive.
Speaking with Oasis Magazine during a heated phone interview on Monday night, Young dismissed Akpeme’s declaration of suspension as unlawful and confrontational, insisting he lacks both the authority and legitimacy to take such action against the Delta executive council.
Akpeme had earlier told the media that the Young-led executive had been suspended at a press conference in Asaba. But Young countered sharply, describing his move as an attempt to impose himself on the state chapter and cling to influence he does not possess.
She argued that the Delta leadership does not recognize Akpeme’s claimed zonal position and considers his actions a direct provocation. According to her, his intervention is not only invalid but deliberately disruptive.
“He is forcing himself into our structure and trying to create confusion,” she said.
“We do not recognize his office, we do not report to him, and we will not submit to intimidation dressed up as authority.”
Young further accused Akpeme of assembling a parallel group of loyalists and presenting them as legitimate officers, branding them impersonators.
She warned that legal action would be taken if he and his associates continue what she described as interference and misrepresentation.
She revealed that the state executive had previously issued a formal warning letter cautioning Akpeme against parading himself across state chapters under a disputed title.
The Delta leadership maintains it operates under the 2017 constitution and rejects attempts to enforce a newer constitutional framework they say does not bind them.
Describing the suspension announcement as “illegal, null, and void,” Young said the Delta executive has unanimously resolved to resist it.
An emergency online meeting, she said, ended with a firm decision not to recognize Akpeme’s authority or directives.
She also pushed back against his alleged recruitment efforts, claiming he is drawing in newer members unfamiliar with the association’s history to build a rival power base.
Despite the turmoil, Young confirmed that the state’s scheduled general meeting in Sapele will proceed as planned.
She added that Akpeme is not welcome at the gathering and warned that security action could be taken if he attempts to appear there.
Calling on members to remain calm but resolute, she framed the dispute as a defensive stand against what she described as an attempted takeover of the Delta chapter’s leadership.
Despite her stance, the South South Zonal Executive Council of NAPPS has doubled down on its decision to suspend the Delta State Executive Committee, accusing the state leadership of rebellion, constitutional breaches, and deliberate defiance to zonal and national authority.
The zonal officials insisted the suspension was not only justified but unavoidable, following what they described as repeated acts of misconduct by the Delta executives led by Mrs. Precious Young.
In a strongly worded statement, the zonal council said the Delta leadership violated multiple constitutional provisions and operated in ways that undermined the association’s chain of command.
Zonal officers portrayed the state executive as insubordinate and confrontational, alleging that they acted like a separate body instead of a recognized state chapter.
According to the council, the Delta executives ignored directives, exceeded their powers, and circulated misleading information among members, actions the zonal body says directly challenged its authority and destabilized the association’s governance structure.
