The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has said the Department of State Services and foreign observers will monitor the NBA National Election scheduled for July 18, 2026, to ensure the integrity of the process.
Osigwe, who disclosed this on Friday at a press conference in Abuja, said the security operatives and foreign observers were being brought on board as independent monitors who would give objective reports at the end of the poll.
The NBA President dismissed fears of rigging being expressed by some members of the association. He assured that both the process leading to the election and the election itself would be free and fair.
“These independent people are being brought in to ensure transparency and credibility. At the end of the day, they will give their objective report on how the election was conducted,” Osigwe said.
The three candidates are Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, Lateef Akangbe Omoyele, SAN, and the only female, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN.
He noted that a particular group known as ‘Egbe Amofin’ had been making frantic efforts to impose a particular candidate on the NBA contrary to the constitution of the association.
According to him, the NBA will not object if one or two of the candidates step down for each other on their own volition but will not allow moves to block the aspiration of any individual to favour any candidate, as being canvassed by the Egbe Amofin group of the Sout-West.
Contrary to insinuations, Osigwe said he is absolutely committed to free and fair election that would produce a President that would command respect of not only lawyers but the entire Nigerians.
He punctured the accusation that he was interfering with the process of the election, noting that the Electoral Committee of the NBA, ECNBA, is an independent committee that does not take instructions from him or anybody in line with the NBA Constitution.
To further allay the fears of possible rigging, Osigwe said he has opted not to vote for any of the candidates.
Insisting that anybody that wins the election deserves it, the NBA President appealed to those opposing the election to stop playing politics, adding that no one would condone rigging.
“In this election I would want them to hold me responsible and accountable. We will ensure that this election is most credible in the history of the NBA. I urge those criticising the process to let democracy thrive.
“It is absurd to accuse me of imposing a candidate when the Egbe Amofin is openly imposing a particular candidate. It is not logical.
“I will not vote in that election if that would give them comfort. I have never asked or forced anybody to vote for any particular candidate because all I want is seamless transition.
“All the allegations of rigging are aimed at damaging the NBA reputation, diminish the NBA and there should be no room for emotion, blackmail, wild allegations or rumour because all we want is a President that would command respect of Nigerians,” he said.
