BoT admits NBA flawed election, calls for peace

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has admitted that the election that brought in Olumide Akpata as President-elect of the association was not free and fair.

The BoT, headed by Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN),has said that regardless of the flawed election, it would not advise for the cancellation of the election in the best interest on the association.

It will be recalled that Dele Adesina (SAN), one of the presidential candidate in the election though came third had petitioned the BoT to cancel the election, citing several flaws.

Adesina alleged “classical electronic fraud, illegal and unconstitutional process” and called on the NBA BoT to cancel the election.

The senior lawyer further alleged the appointment of the service provider for the NBA 2020 election was done solely by the NBA president and the voter list was not released by ECNBA until five hours to the election, in violation of the NBA Constitution.

According to him, there was also “predetermined data on the election site and disenfranchisement of about 14,000 prospective voters,” “manipulation and padding of voters list in that it contained 4,464 names of purported lawyers without branches;” erroneous tagging of 86 names of lawyers under the category ‘International Diaspora’, inflation of list at some branches, among others.”

But the BoT, in reply to Adesina said it had given careful consideration and deeply reflected on the petition and all the responses, in particular that of ECNBA (Election Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association).

It admitted that the elections were not perfect, but that it would advise against cancellation for the interest of the bar.

“The Trustees have given careful consideration and deeply reflected on your petition and all the responses, in particular that of ECNBA (Election Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association).

“We note that the elections were not perfect. We reviewed your petition and note that it raises serious issues. Nonetheless, our advice will be the overall interest of the Bar should be paramount on the mind of every Nigerian lawyer and to that extent, we urge that all lawyers and no less the candidates be mindful of the need to promote a cohesive united and strong Bar.

“We regret that we are unable to advise that the election should be cancelled in the overall interest of the Bar,” the BoT stated.