Kohima, August 29 (MExN): The Nagaland Chess Association (NCA) has rejected allegations of “undemocratic dictatorship”, lack of transparency and inadequate consultation levelled by former vice-president Mohokiya Apon, describing the claims as fabricated.
The clarification came in response to an article titled “NCA vice-president resigns” published in The Morung Express on August 23.
The NCA said financial audits for 2021-24 and part of the 2024-27 tenure were completed on June 12, 2026, and the audit reports were reviewed, discussed and closed at its Executive Committee meeting on August 22. It said major activities and decisions are communicated in advance and approved at executive meetings.
The association said Apon’s grievance stemmed from his removal as Convenor of the Audit Committee. The committee was constituted on May 15, 2025, with three members, including Apon, while the Convenor’s post was vacant. During the 2025 State Chess Championship, the Working President and another vice-president allegedly instructed the Honorary Secretary to appoint Apon as Convenor without mandatory Executive Committee approval.
The NCA alleged that after his appointment, Apon directed the Treasurer to send digital income and expenditure records, cash memos and vouchers through WhatsApp before an audit date was fixed. The Treasurer consulted other committee members, who said the request had not been authorised and instructed him not to share the records.
The Executive Committee subsequently removed Apon from the Audit Committee and the Convenor’s post at its April 13 meeting, the NCA said. Apon allegedly declared the decision and meeting “null and void” and sought the President’s intervention.
At a June 18 Executive Committee meeting, the President heard his grievances and advised him to allow the restructured Audit Committee to proceed and avoid further internal friction. The NCA said Apon agreed.
The dispute resurfaced at the August 22 meeting at Hotel Japfu, Kohima, when Apon allegedly objected to the audit reports and repeated his grievance over his removal. The President reminded him that the matter had been settled. The NCA said Apon continued disrupting the meeting, following which the President advised him to resign on moral grounds. Apon tendered what the association called a “non-voluntary resignation”, left the meeting and his resignation was accepted.
Separately, the NCA said Apon has been suspended for five years under Article 18(d) of its Constitution, effective August 27, 2026 to August 28, 2031.
The suspension bars him from NCA membership, roles and privileges and from participating in activities of the All India Chess Federation (AICF) or NCA-affiliated bodies during the period.
The association cited alleged forgery, public slander, institutional sabotage and administrative obstruction as grounds for the suspension, including unauthorised use of NCA letterheads, publication and circulation of the August 23 article, and repeated disruption of its functioning.
The order was issued by NCA President S Keoshu Yimkhiung, who said it was aimed at safeguarding the integrity, transparency and democratic functioning of chess administration in Nagaland.
