The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law, in partnership with the Rule of Law Foundation, will hold a National Workshop on Electoral Reforms on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at the NBA Auditorium in Abuja assembling an array of distinguished speakers including Justices of the superior courts, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, and professors of law to examine the innovations and controversies of the Electoral Act 2026 and prepare the legal community for the implementation of the new law ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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The workshop, themed “Upholding an Efficient Electoral System in Nigeria,” will be declared open by the President of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Monica Dongbam-Mensem CFR a significant indicator of the judiciary’s own investment in ensuring that the legal framework for the 2027 elections is properly understood and applied by both practitioners and judicial officers.
Plenary Session 2: The Heart Of The Workshop
The workshop’s Plenary Session 2 features seven distinguished speakers addressing the most critical legal and procedural issues likely to arise from the Electoral Act 2026 and the 2027 elections.
The “Hard Evidence” Hurdle — Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN
Senior Advocate Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN will address the “Hard Evidence” Hurdle — a topic that goes to the heart of election petitions and the evidentiary standards required to prove allegations of electoral malpractice before tribunals. The Electoral Act 2026 has introduced changes to the evidence requirements for challenging election results, and Ikpeazu’s presentation is expected to examine whether these changes make it easier or harder for petitioners to prove their cases.
Reform Of The Tribunal System — Tayo Oyetibo SAN
Senior Advocate Tayo Oyetibo SAN will examine the reform of the tribunal system — a critical topic given longstanding concerns about the speed, fairness, and effectiveness of election petition tribunals. Nigeria’s election dispute resolution mechanism has been criticised for delays, inconsistent decisions, and procedural obstacles that often prevent the merits of petitions from being fully examined. Oyetibo’s analysis of proposed or enacted reforms will be closely followed by practitioners who handle election cases.
Ethics At The Bar — Chief Jibrin S. Okutepa SAN
Chief Jibrin Samuel Okutepa SAN will address ethics at the Bar — a particularly timely topic given the recent controversies over lawyers’ conduct in election-related litigation, the NBA’s warning against lawyers dragging courts into internal party disputes, and the broader debate about professional responsibility in politically sensitive cases.
Okutepa’s selection as a speaker is notable given his recent reconciliation with NBA President Osigwe SAN, which took place just days before the workshop, suggesting that his expertise on professional ethics is recognised even by those with whom he has had significant disagreements.
Technicalities Vs. Merits — Professor Paul Ananaba SAN
Professor Paul Ananaba SAN will tackle one of the most persistent tensions in Nigerian election law — the balance between technicalities and merits. Nigerian election petitions have frequently been dismissed on technical or procedural grounds without examination of the substantive allegations, a pattern that has drawn criticism from citizens who feel that justice is sacrificed on the altar of procedure. Ananaba’s examination of this tension under the Electoral Act 2026 will be significant for both practitioners and judicial officers.
Upholding Electoral Integrity Through Adjudication — Hon. Justice Peter Obiorah JCA
Justice Peter Obiorah of the Court of Appeal will speak on upholding electoral integrity through adjudication — offering the perspective of the appellate bench on how judicial officers can ensure that their handling of election cases contributes to the credibility and legitimacy of the electoral process. This judicial perspective complements the practitioners’ presentations and provides insight into how the bench approaches the unique challenges of election adjudication.
Legislative Intent Of The 2026 Amendments — Abayomi Shogunle And Wendy Kuku SAN
Abayomi Shogunle and Senior Advocate Wendy Kuku SAN will jointly address the legislative intent of the 2026 amendments — examining what the National Assembly intended when it enacted the controversial provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, including the mandatory direct primaries clause, the NIN membership requirement, the removal of certificate forgery as a ground for post-election challenges, and other provisions that have generated significant debate.
This session is expected to provide critical context for interpreting the new law, particularly given the widespread criticism from political parties, civil society organisations, and legal practitioners who have described various provisions as regressive.
Moderator: Hon. Justice Emmanuel Agim JSC
The plenary session will be moderated by Justice Emmanuel Agim of the Supreme Court lending the authority of the apex court to the proceedings and ensuring that discussions are grounded in established legal principles.
The workshop will attract eminent personalities from across the legal and political spectrum, including Chief J.B. Daudu SAN, a past President of the Nigerian Bar Association; Professor Abdulkadir Abikan, Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies; and Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, who brings legislative experience to the discussions on electoral reform.
The timing of the workshop is significant. It comes barely nine days before the party primaries window opens on April 23, 2026, and less than nine months before the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027.
The Electoral Act 2026, signed by President Tinubu, has been widely criticised by political parties under the Inter-Party Advisory Council, who have collectively described it as “a significant regression” and demanded its repeal. Key controversies include the mandatory direct primaries requirement, the NIN membership register deadline, the removal of certificate forgery as a post-election challenge ground, weakened penalties for vote buying, and questions about electronic transmission of results.
The NBA itself has warned judges and lawyers against being drawn into internal party disputes despite the clear provisions of Section 83 of the Electoral Act a warning that underscores the need for the kind of professional education and dialogue that the workshop aims to provide.
The workshop also comes amid the ADC leadership crisis, multiple court cases involving political party disputes, and the broader question of INEC’s independence all issues that touch directly on the themes of electoral integrity, judicial adjudication, and professional ethics that the speakers will address.
The workshop is organised under the leadership of Dr. Uju Agomoh, Chair of NBA-SPIDEL, and Andrew Odum SAN, Chairman of the Planning Committee. NBA-SPIDEL, as the section of the NBA dedicated to public interest and development law, has historically played a leading role in advocacy for legal reforms, access to justice, and the strengthening of democratic institutions.
The workshop will be held at the NBA Auditorium, NBA House, Plot 1101 Mohammadu Buhari Way, Central Business District, Abuja, beginning at 9:00 a.m. prompt.
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