A forum of Yoruba lawyers, Egbe Amofin Oodua, has called for the postponement of the forthcoming Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) presidential election, citing concerns over the transparency, credibility and integrity of the electoral process.
Gatekeepers News reports that the group said delaying the election would provide sufficient time to implement agreed electoral reforms aimed at ensuring a free, fair and credible poll.
Speaking with journalists in Ibadan, the Chairman of the Governing Council of Egbe Amofin Oodua, Isiaka Olagunju (SAN), accused the NBA leadership of reneging on agreements previously reached with stakeholders on reforms designed to strengthen the credibility of the election.
Olagunju, a former General Secretary of the NBA and immediate past Chairman of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), alleged that the association ignored an earlier agreement reached at a meeting involving presidential candidates and other stakeholders to postpone Saturday’s election and introduce key reforms.
Among the proposed changes, he said, was the adoption of members’ National Identification Number (NIN)-linked phone numbers for voter authentication instead of relying solely on email verification.
According to him, proceeding with the election without implementing the reforms has heightened concerns among members over the credibility of the process.
“We are calling on the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe (SAN), and the Electoral Committee of the NBA to postpone this election. The earlier agreement reached with the presidential candidates was that the election would be postponed to allow for necessary reforms and proper sensitisation of members,” Olagunju said.
He expressed disappointment that the NBA leadership allegedly chose to proceed with the election despite objections from several stakeholders.
“We were shocked when an emergency National Executive Council meeting was convened to overturn that agreement. We believe it is a wrong decision because it does not reflect the wishes of the majority of members,” he stated.
The senior advocate argued that the current electronic voting system, which depends largely on email authentication, remains vulnerable to manipulation.
According to him, concerns over the integrity of NBA elections have persisted since 2018.
“There have been persistent complaints about manipulation of email addresses, voter profiles and one-time passwords during previous elections. We cannot continue to repeat the same mistakes.
“What we are asking for is simple. Every lawyer has a registered phone number linked to a National Identification Number. Those should be adopted for authentication instead of relying solely on email addresses,” he said.
Olagunju maintained that adopting NIN-linked phone numbers would strengthen the credibility of the election and reduce the risk of electoral fraud.
He also accused the NBA leadership of failing to maintain neutrality in the electoral process, alleging that some aspirants had received preferential treatment.
According to him, campaign materials bearing the image of a particular presidential candidate were openly distributed during previous National Executive Council meetings.
“As President of the NBA, you are expected to provide a level playing field for every aspirant. Unfortunately, actions taken so far have created doubts about the neutrality of the process,” he alleged.
Olagunju further disclosed that Egbe Amofin Oodua had earlier filed a lawsuit challenging the composition of the NBA Electoral Committee, arguing that its appointments did not comply with the association’s constitution.
He said the Attorney-General of the Federation later intervened in an effort to facilitate an amicable resolution and proposed reforms to improve the electoral process.
“We sincerely appreciate the intervention of the Attorney-General of the Federation. He has done his best to encourage dialogue and proposed reforms that would strengthen the electoral process,” he said.
However, he lamented that the recommendations had allegedly not been implemented.
Among the reforms proposed are the use of NIN-linked phone numbers for voter verification, postponement of the election to allow adequate voter sensitisation, and broader electoral reforms.
Olagunju also claimed that although more than 250 members attended the emergency National Executive Council meeting, 176 voted in favour of proceeding with the election, 15 voted against, while the remaining members abstained, arguing that the outcome did not reflect the wishes of the majority.
“The silent majority should not be oppressed. Many members chose to abstain because they were uncomfortable with the process. What we seek is credibility, transparency and fairness,” he stated.
He warned that conducting the election without implementing the agreed reforms could further undermine confidence in the NBA’s electoral system.
“If we truly want an election that members will accept, then the reforms already agreed upon must be implemented before the poll is conducted,” he said.
Olagunju stressed that the campaign was not in support of any particular candidate but was aimed at safeguarding the integrity of the legal profession.
“What we are fighting for is not for any individual aspirant. We are fighting for the soul of the Nigerian Bar Association. Whoever emerges as president will serve for only two years, but the credibility of our electoral process will remain with us for generations,” he added.
He urged NBA members to remain united in pursuing justice, transparency and institutional reforms.
“Our members should remain resolute. They should stand for justice, transparency and fairness. We must protect the integrity of the NBA and ensure that future elections inspire confidence among all members,” he said.
Olagunju added that Egbe Amofin Oodua would consult its members on the next course of action if the election proceeds without the requested reforms.
