*Osigwe: I have no preferred candidate, won’t vote *Dismisses rigging allegations *Ojo claims plot to impose candidate *Okpoko vows lawyers will resist interference in NBA’s affairs Alex Enumah in Abuja and Wale Igbintade in Lagos The intrigues, litigations, influence peddling, political maneuverings and regional colouration that have dogged the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) 2026 elections will come to an end today as thousands of lawyers across Nigeria log on to elect a new President and other national officers of the Association. The finger pointing, accusations and counter accusations of manipulation is coming on the heels of the President of the NBA, Mr. Afam Osigwe, SAN washing his hands off any allegation of favouritism or manipulation, insisting that he has no preferred candidate and may not vote in the elections. The election is turning out to be a defining moment for the country’s foremost professional legal body and a critical test of its commitment to democracy, institutional independence, transparency and the rule of law.Ordinarily, NBA elections are routine democratic exercises that attract keen interest within the legal profession.This year’s poll however, has been overshadowed by an unprecedented wave of litigation, regional politics, allegations of bias, disputes over the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), questions surrounding the electronic voting platform, debates over voter authentication and an extraordinary public disagreement between the NBA leadership and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF). The irony has not been lost on many observers. An Association that has consistently held governments accountable for upholding constitutional democracy has spent months defending the integrity of its own electoral process.The presidency, zoned to the Western Zone under the NBA’s power-rotation arrangement, is being contested by three Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs): Olumuyiwa Akinboro, Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okunsanya and Mr. Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe.Each candidate has presented a distinct vision for the future of the Association. Akinboro is campaigning on rebuilding, repositioning and restoring the Bar. Akangbe’s “Elevate the Bar” agenda focuses on institutional reform and improved welfare for lawyers, while Badejo-Okunsanya has built her campaign around improving lawyers’ earnings, reducing the cost of legal practice, enhancing welfare and creating a more inclusive Bar. Should she prevail, she would become the first woman to win as President of the Association.Beyond the personalities, however, lawyers are voting on broader issues that will shape the future of the profession—judicial independence, constitutional democracy, justice sector reforms, lawyers’ welfare and the NBA’s role as the leading voice of the legal profession on national issues. Much of the controversy has centred on the ECNBA, the independent body established under Section 10 of the NBA Constitution to conduct national elections.Although the committee was duly constituted by the National Executive Council (NEC), its composition, appointment process and perceived independence quickly became subjects of intense debate. The controversy escalated after two presidential aspirants called on NBA President, Osigwe, to resign over remarks they interpreted as suggesting that he could not remain neutral because he has a constitutional right to vote. While Osigwe defended his position, insisting that every member is entitled to personal political preferences, critics argued that even the appearance of partisanship was enough to undermine confidence in the process.The episode has reinforced calls for constitutional reforms that would further strengthen the independence of future electoral committees and shield them from allegations of undue influence. Regional politics also resurfaced in a manner rarely seen in recent NBA elections.The intervention of Egbe Amofin O’odua, which endorsed Akinboro as the consensus candidate for the Western Bar, reignited debate over the place of regional associations in NBA politics. While supporters defended the endorsement as part of the Bar’s established power-sharing arrangement, critics argued that leadership should emerge through open democratic competition rather than regional consensus.Former President of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, Mrs. Boma Alabi, SAN, echoed the sentiments of many lawyers when she described regional endorsements as outdated and inconsistent with universal suffrage, insisting that every lawyer should be free to choose a preferred candidate without ethnic or regional influence. Predictably, the disagreements spilled into the courtroom.Interim injunctions granted by the Oyo State High Court temporarily threatened the election after restraining members of the ECNBA from taking furthe
Don't miss out on breaking stories and in-depth articles.
