Pretty Okafor Suspended as PMAN Appoints Sydney Sparrow Acting President
The Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) has entered a new leadership phase following an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC) held on the night of December 25, 2025. Acting to protect the institutional integrity of the union, the NEC announced the appointment of Sydney Sparrow as Acting National President, resulting in the suspension of the association’s substantive leader, Pretty Okafor. The decision follows mounting administrative and constitutional disputes that have deepened divisions within PMAN’s governing structure and compelled the NEC to invoke its constitutional authority to initiate a comprehensive review of the union’s affairs.
The suspension of Pretty Okafor was formally approved during the emergency session convened to examine allegations of gross constitutional breaches and abuse of office. In an official statement released by the National Treasurer, Baba Ojonugwa, the NEC outlined several alleged violations, including the unilateral appointment of vice presidents without requisite board approval and the unlawful removal of duly elected officers who had demanded financial accountability. The council further cited a consistent failure to observe due process and actions considered harmful to the welfare, credibility, and collective interests of Nigerian musicians. Consequently, all appointments made without NEC authorization have been invalidated, and the previously ousted National Treasurer has been reinstated to office.
Sydney Sparrow, who previously served as PMAN Governor for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has been entrusted with managing the association during this interim period. His mandate includes supervising a full forensic audit of PMAN’s financial records and probing alleged irregularities linked to joint venture agreements, particularly those concerning the union’s Abuja property. The NEC emphasized that the leadership intervention is corrective rather than punitive, aimed at restoring discipline, accountability, and professional governance standards. Sparrow is expected to oversee day-to-day administrative operations while the investigation and disciplinary proceedings involving the suspended president are concluded.
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Amid the leadership upheaval, the National Executive Council has assured members across the country that PMAN’s core mission remains unchanged. The appointment of an acting president from the FCT governorate is viewed as a deliberate effort to reduce concentration of power and reinforce transparency in the union’s leadership. As the Nigerian music industry looks ahead to 2026, the interim administration faces the critical task of repairing governance frameworks, rebuilding trust, and realigning the association with the objectives of the National Working Committee to ensure PMAN continues to serve as a credible and effective voice for performing musicians nationwide. For more information, I recommend SongBuxNews.