ASCSN Crisis Deepens as OHCSF Members Reject Proposed Election, Insist on Compliance With NICN Judgment

ASCSN Members Reject Proposed OHCSF Unit Election, Demand Compliance With NICN Judgment

By Staff Reporter
August 26, 2026

Members of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) Unit have rejected a proposed election allegedly being organised by Comrade Ameh Sylvester Abah, describing the exercise as unlawful and inconsistent with subsisting judgments of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN).

The members, operating under the Concerned Members of the ASCSN OHCSF Unit and in coordination with the Strategic Media Group (SMG), said any election conducted outside the authority of the judicially affirmed National President, Comrade Innocent Bola-Audu, Ph.D., FCNA, FCTI, would be invalid.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the group urged security personnel within the Head of Service to remain vigilant against what it described as unauthorised activities that could potentially involve the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation in a contempt-of-court situation.

Court judgment central to dispute

According to the group, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, in its judgment delivered on April 15, 2026, in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/169/2025, nullified parallel ASCSN elections conducted on August 12, 2024, describing them as illegal and fraudulent.

The group said the court instead affirmed the August 10, 2024 election that returned Comrade Bola-Audu for a second term, which it said runs until June 15, 2029.

It argued that any attempt to organise a parallel election at the OHCSF Unit level would therefore be inconsistent with the court's decision and the ASCSN Constitution.

Warning to organisers

The members also called on Comrade Ameh Sylvester Abah, whom they described as the expired Chairman of the OHCSF Unit, to desist from activities capable of circumventing the authority of the court.

They further cited a ₦70 million damages award reportedly made by the NICN against associates of Abah, identified as Shehu Mohammed and Joshua Apebo, over what the group described as acts of wilful disobedience and disdain for the law.

The group warned that proceeding with an unauthorised election could expose those involved to further legal and professional consequences.

'Judgment remains alive'

The statement also drew attention to proceedings of May 20, 2026, when, according to the group, the NICN struck out an application by the dissident faction seeking a stay of execution.

The members maintained that, by virtue of Section 47 of the National Industrial Court Act 2006, the judgment affirming Bola-Audu remains valid and enforceable despite any pending appeal.

On that basis, they argued that no individual or faction could lawfully convene meetings or elections outside the constitutional authority of the Association and the subsisting judicial pronouncements.

Demands to ASCSN stakeholders

The Concerned Members consequently demanded the immediate suspension of all proposed electoral activities by Abah pending compliance with the April 15 and May 20, 2026 court proceedings.

They also called for strict adherence to the constitutional organs of the Association and what they referred to as the "Architecture of Integrity."

The group further advised the management of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to deal only with the Comrade Caleb Boboi-led Caretaker Committee in matters concerning the welfare of members, pending the resolution of the leadership dispute.

The members urged ASCSN members to remain law-abiding and vigilant against what they described as attempts by "judgment debtors" to fragment the Association for personal interests.

'ASCSN is one'

Concluding the statement, the group declared that the ASCSN remained one association and urged members not to allow internal ambitions to undermine its institutional stability.

"Aluta Continua! Victoria Ascerta!" the statement concluded.

The statement was signed by the Strategic Media Group on behalf of the Concerned Members of the ASCSN OHCSF Unit.