A forum of Yoruba lawyers, under the aegis of Egbe Amofin Oodua, has called for the postponement of the forthcoming Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) presidential election, citing concerns over the transparency and credibility of the electoral process.

The group said delaying the election would allow the implementation of agreed electoral reforms capable of guaranteeing 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 leadership of the NBA of reneging on agreements earlier reached with stakeholders on reforms aimed at improving 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 the NBA leadership ignored an agreement reached at a meeting involving presidential candidates and key stakeholders to postpone Saturday’s election and introduce reforms, including the use of members’ National Identification Number (NIN)-linked phone numbers for voting instead of email authentication.

According to him, the decision to proceed with the election has heightened concerns among members over the credibility of the electoral 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 insisted on proceeding 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 lawyer argued that the current electronic voting system, which relies largely on email authentication, remains vulnerable to manipulation.

According to him, complaints about 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.

He maintained that adopting NIN-linked phone numbers would strengthen the credibility of the election and minimise the risk of electoral fraud.

Olagunju also accused the NBA leadership of allegedly failing to maintain neutrality in the electoral process, alleging that some aspirants were being given preferential treatment.

He claimed that 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.

The former OYSIEC chairman further disclosed that Egbe Amofin Oodua had earlier instituted legal action challenging the composition of the NBA Electoral Committee, arguing that the appointments did not comply with the association’s constitution.

He noted that although the Attorney-General of the Federation later intervened in an attempt to facilitate an amicable resolution, the agreed reforms had yet to be implemented.

“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.

Olagunju, however, lamented that the recommendations were allegedly being ignored.

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

He further alleged that although more than 250 members attended the emergency NEC meeting, 176 voted in favour of proceeding with the election, 15 voted against, while the remaining members abstained.

According to him, the outcome did not reflect the true 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.

Olagunju warned that conducting the election without implementing the agreed reforms could further erode 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.

He stressed that the campaign was not about supporting any particular candidate but about protecting 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.

Olagunju urged members of the association to remain united and steadfast in their pursuit of justice 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.

He added that the Yoruba Lawyers Forum would consult its members on the next line of action should the election proceed without the requested reforms. (Channels News)

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