The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has announced that it will elect a new president on May 24 during its 2026 national convention scheduled to hold in Abuja.
The Chairman of the 2026 Independent Convention Planning Committee, Omotayo Samuel, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing journalists in Abuja.
Samuel said the committee was inaugurated by the NANS President, Olusola Oladoja, on March 8, 2026, in line with the association’s constitution to coordinate activities leading to the convention.
According to him, several sub-committees have been constituted to ensure effective coordination and smooth organisation of the convention.
“The sub-committees were carefully constituted to allow proper delegation of responsibilities and ensure efficiency in the planning process,” he said.
Samuel explained that the committees include Screening and Verification, Screening Appeal, Venue and Protocol, Welfare and Entertainment, Accommodation, Security, Stakeholders Engagement, Medical and Emergency, Media and Publicity, Fund Raising and Finance, Election Management, Transport and Logistics, Contact and Mobilisation, and Accreditation.
He added that each sub-committee has at least 10 members drawn from the six geopolitical zones to ensure inclusiveness and balanced participation.
The committee chairman noted that disciplinary measures have also been put in place for any member found wanting in the discharge of their duties.
Samuel also released the timetable for the convention process, stating that pre-convention activities began on March 8 and will run until March 30.
According to him, nomination and accreditation forms will be available for collection between April 1 and April 7, while submission of completed forms will take place from April 8 to April 10.
“Physical screening of aspirants will hold from April 12 to April 19, while verification of studentship by the Screening and Verification Committee will run from April 20 to April 27,” he said.
Samuel added that screening results will be released on April 29, while the appeal window will open from May 1 to May 7, with final appeal results expected on May 9.
Convention activities will run from May 22 to May 25 at the Old Parade Ground in Abuja.
Delegates are expected to arrive on May 20, while a peace accord with the Department of State Services will be held on May 21.
“The presidential debate will take place later the same day, while accreditation of delegates will be conducted on May 23 ahead of the election scheduled for May 24,” Samuel added.
He also clarified that aspirants’ intent forms are free and should not attract any payment.
“We call on all stakeholders and aspirants to cooperate with the committee as we work towards a successful and transparent convention,” he said.
The student body was founded in 1956 as the National Union of Nigerian Students and was later rebranded as the National Association of Nigerian Students after the former body was banned in 1978 following the historic “Ali Must Go” protests.
