The Egbe Amofin Oodua, a Yoruba lawyers forum, has called for the postponement of the forthcoming Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) presidential election, insisting that the poll should not proceed until key electoral reforms are implemented to guarantee transparency and credibility.
The group said delaying the election would create room for the adoption of measures capable of restoring confidence in the NBA’s electronic voting system, which it argued has been dogged by complaints of manipulation over the years.
Addressing journalists in Ibadan on Friday, Chairman of the Governing Council of Egbe Amofin Oodua, Isiaka Olagunju (SAN), accused the NBA leadership of abandoning agreements previously reached with stakeholders to improve the integrity 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 an earlier understanding reached with presidential candidates and other stakeholders was that Saturday’s election would be postponed to allow for the introduction of agreed reforms.
According to him, one of the major proposals was the replacement of email-based voter authentication with members’ National Identification Number (NIN)-linked telephone numbers to enhance the security of the electronic voting process.
He expressed disappointment that the NBA leadership reversed the agreement through an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting and decided to proceed with the election.
“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 argued that the decision to proceed with the poll had heightened anxiety among members about the credibility of the election.
The senior advocate maintained that the existing electronic voting system, which relies largely on email authentication, remains susceptible to manipulation.
According to him, concerns over the integrity of NBA elections have persisted since 2018, with allegations involving the manipulation of email addresses, voter profiles and one-time passwords.
“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,” he said.
He added that every legal practitioner already has a registered telephone number linked to a NIN, arguing that adopting such numbers for voter authentication would significantly reduce the possibility of electoral fraud.
Olagunju also alleged that the NBA leadership had failed to maintain neutrality throughout the electoral process, saying some aspirants appeared to enjoy preferential treatment.
He alleged that campaign materials bearing the image of one of the presidential candidates were openly distributed during previous National Executive Council meetings, a development he said undermined confidence in the leadership’s impartiality.
“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 stated.
The former OYSIEC chairman further revealed that Egbe Amofin Oodua had earlier approached the court to challenge the composition of the NBA Electoral Committee, arguing that its membership did not comply with the provisions of the association’s constitution.
He, however, acknowledged the intervention of the Attorney-General of the Federation, who, according to him, sought to broker peace among the parties and proposed reforms aimed at strengthening the electoral process.
Olagunju expressed regret that the recommendations arising from the intervention had not been implemented.
Among the reforms being demanded are the adoption of NIN-linked telephone numbers for voter verification, postponement of the election to allow adequate voter sensitisation, and broader electoral reforms designed to improve transparency.
He also questioned the outcome of the emergency NEC meeting, claiming that although more than 250 members attended, only 176 voted in support of proceeding with the election, while 15 opposed the motion and many others abstained.
According to him, the large number of abstentions suggested widespread dissatisfaction with the process.
“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 said.
Olagunju warned that conducting the election without implementing the proposed reforms could further diminish members’ confidence in the NBA’s electoral system.
He stressed that the campaign for postponement was not intended to favour any of the presidential aspirants but was aimed solely 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 said.
He urged members of the association to remain united in demanding justice, transparency and fairness, adding that Egbe Amofin Oodua would consult with its members on the next course of action should the election proceed without the requested reforms.
