The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, says all is set for its 2026 National Officers’ Election scheduled for Saturday, July 18, assuring members of a free, fair and credible electoral process despite the controversies that have trailed preparations for the poll.
Speaking ahead of the election, NBA President, Afam Osigwe, SAN, said the association remains committed to protecting its democratic process, stressing that every eligible lawyer should be allowed to exercise the right to vote.
Osigwe recalled that the process of constituting the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, ECNBA, was at one point stalled by a court order restraining him from setting up the committee. He, however, noted that the legal hurdles have since been resolved, clearing the way for the election to proceed.
The NBA President urged lawyers to refrain from making inflammatory statements capable of undermining confidence in the process, noting that allegations that the election would be manipulated surfaced even before the ECNBA was constituted.
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He emphasised that the association has invited independent observers, including the Department of State Services, DSS; Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and foreign observers, to monitor the exercise and strengthen public confidence in the integrity of the electronic voting process.
Addressing concerns over the recent arrest of the Managing Director of one of the election service providers by the DSS, Osigwe disclosed that the individual was later released, while investigations continue into information found on his laptop to ensure that no aspect of the electoral process was compromised.
He explained that two separate service providers are handling different aspects of the election, including data management, as part of measures to safeguard the credibility and security of the electronic voting system.
On calls by some aggrieved members to boycott the election, the NBA President said participation remains voluntary, adding that anyone who chooses not to vote is free to do so.
Responding to claims of possible bias, Osigwe acknowledged that the NBA Constitution permits the President to have preferred candidates but disclosed that he would refrain from voting in the election to avoid any perception of influencing the outcome.
He reiterated the association’s commitment to a seamless electoral process and called on members to allow democracy to thrive by participating peacefully in the election.
The NBA National Executive Council has also resolved that the election will hold as scheduled on July 18 after the ECNBA confirmed its readiness to conduct a free, fair, and credible poll despite recent challenges. Voting will be conducted electronically from 12:00am to 11:59pm on Saturday, with results expected after collation and security validation.
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(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
