Yoruba lawyers call for postponement of NBA elections, allege violation of electoral reform agreement

A forum of Yoruba lawyers, Egbe Amofin Oodua, has called for the postponement of the presidential elections of the Nigerian Bar Association, arguing that the association’s leadership has abandoned agreed electoral reforms that would ensure transparent and credible polling.

The group warned that proceeding with the election without implementing the proposed reforms could undermine confidence in the NBA’s electoral process.

Speaking at a press conference in Ibadan on Friday, the Chairman of the Egbe Amofin Oodua Governing Council, Isiaka Olagunju (SAN), accused the NBA leadership of reneging on agreements reached with presidential candidates and other stakeholders to delay elections and introduce stronger voter authentication measures.

Olagunju, a former general secretary of the NBA and former chairman of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, said the association ignored the consensus to postpone Saturday’s elections to allow for the adoption of telephone numbers linked to members’ national identification number for voter verification instead of the current email-based authentication.

He said the decision to proceed with the election had heightened concerns among members about the operation’s credibility.

“We call on the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe (SAN), and the NBA Election Committee to postpone these elections. The previous agreement reached with the presidential candidates was that the elections would be postponed to allow for necessary reforms and adequate sensitization of members,” Olagunju said.

He expressed disappointment that an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council would nullify the previous agreement despite objections from stakeholders.

“We were shocked when an emergency meeting of the NEC was called to overturn the agreement. We believe it is a bad decision because it does not reflect the wishes of the majority of members,” he said.

Olagunju argued that the electronic voting system, which relies heavily on email authentication, remains susceptible to manipulation.

According to him, complaints alleging manipulation of email addresses, voter profiles and one-time passwords had persisted since 2018.

“There have been persistent complaints about the manipulation of email addresses, voter profiles and one-time passwords in previous elections. We cannot keep repeating the same mistakes,” he said.

He urged the NBA to adopt NIN-linked phone numbers for voter authentication, insisting the measure would significantly reduce the risk of voter fraud and strengthen the credibility of the elections.

The senior lawyer also accused the NBA leadership of failing to maintain neutrality, alleging that a presidential aspirant’s campaign materials had been distributed openly during previous NEC meetings.

“As president of the NBA, you are expected to provide a level playing field for every aspirant. Unfortunately, the actions taken thus far have created doubts about the neutrality of the process,” he said.

Olagunju further revealed that Egbe Amofin Oodua had earlier initiated legal proceedings challenging the composition of the NBA election committee, claiming that its appointments were not in accordance with the association’s bylaws.

According to him, despite the intervention of the Attorney General of the Federation to facilitate dialogue and electoral reforms, the recommendations are yet to be implemented.

Among the proposed reforms, he listed the use of NIN-linked phone numbers for voter verification, postponing elections to allow for adequate voter education, and broader electoral reforms.

He further said that while more than 250 members attended the emergency meeting of the NEC, 176 voted in favor of proceeding with the elections, 15 voted against, while many others abstained.

According to him, the result does not reflect the true wishes of the majority of NBA members.

“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 maintained that the campaign was not aimed at supporting any candidate but to safeguard the integrity of the legal profession.

“What we are fighting for is not for a single aspirant. We are fighting for the soul of the Nigerian Bar Association. Whoever emerges as president will only serve for two years, but the credibility of our electoral process will remain with us for generations,” he added.

He urged lawyers across the country to remain committed to justice, transparency and institutional reforms, warning that the Yoruba Lawyers Forum will consult its members on the next course of action if the elections proceed without the required reforms.

The NBA had yet to respond to the allegations at the time of filing this report.

‘

Want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need advertising for a product, service or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com

We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Please donate any amount HERE