The Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) has published the Final List of Qualified Candidates for the 2026 NBA General Elections, confirming the names of all candidates who will contest the July 20 election following the conclusion of the screening process and the determination of all appeals by the National Officers Election Appeals Committee (NOEAC).
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The list, dated May 28, 2026, and signed by ECNBA Chairman Aham Ejelam, SAN, and Secretary Ibrahim Aliyu Nassarawa, Esq., reveals a total of 51 qualified candidates across national officer positions and the General Council of the Bar, with some positions attracting crowded fields of up to seven candidates while three candidates may be returned unopposed in positions where they are the sole qualified aspirants.
The publication comes after the NOEAC resolved all pending appeals, having previously overshot the deadline set by the NBA Constitution for treating appeals by disqualified aspirants, a delay that had created what was described as an “inelegant situation” whereby the ECNBA had begun engaging cleared aspirants while those with pending appeals were left in limbo.
Two Appeals Upheld in Northern Zone
The most significant outcome of the appeals process was the restoration of two candidates from the Northern Zone contesting for the position of NBA Representative to the General Council of the Bar (GCB).
Bulus Yohanna Atsen, FSI, and Onimisi Friday Umar both had their appeals upheld by the NOEAC, resulting in their names being added to the final list. Their successful appeals increased the number of Northern Zone GCB candidates from five to seven, making it the most competitive zonal contest for that position.
The ECNBA did not publicly disclose the grounds on which the two candidates had been initially disqualified or the basis on which the Appeals Committee allowed their appeals.
The Presidential Race: Three SANs
The race for the presidency of the Nigerian Bar Association will be a three-way contest among Senior Advocates of Nigeria. The qualified candidates are Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN; Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, SAN, FCIArb; and Oyinkansola Badejo-Okunsanya, SAN.
The list of presidential candidates did not change from the earlier screening results, confirming that no presidential aspirant was disqualified or had an appeal pending before the NOEAC.
First Vice President: Three Candidates
Three candidates will contest for the position of First Vice President: Oghenero Okoro, Esq.; Luqman Adekunle Laoye, Esq.; and Obajaja Onimisi Stephen, Esq.
Three Positions May Produce Walkovers
Three national officer positions have only one qualified candidate each, meaning those candidates may be returned unopposed unless the NBA Constitution requires a confirmatory vote.
Nuhu John Egya, Esq. is the sole candidate for Second Vice President. Iniobong Irene Pepple, Esq. is the sole candidate for Third Vice President. Esther Ifeoma Jimoh, Esq. is the sole candidate for Treasurer.
General Secretary: Six-Way Battle
The position of General Secretary, widely regarded as one of the most consequential offices in the NBA’s governance structure, will see a six-way contest among Afam O. Okeke, Esq.; Barth Okoye Aniche, Esq.; Chidi V. Ezenwafor, Esq.; Dr Rapulu Ernest Nduka; Nnaebuka Onyebuchi Nwaeze, Esq.; and Okey Leo Ohagba, Esq.
Assistant General Secretary: Seven Candidates
The most crowded contest on the ballot will be for the position of Assistant General Secretary, where seven candidates will compete: Benjamin Emeka Enyiagu, Esq.; Chiduabo Prince Henry Mamah, Esq.; Aghogho Gladys Okpomor, Esq.; Tijjani Magaji, Esq.; Onwudinjo Lucky Eloka (Uncle Jeje); Osato Uwagboe, Esq.; and Osarodion Michael Igiede, Esq.
The inclusion of Tijjani Magaji on the final list is notable given the controversy surrounding his candidacy. NBA-SPIDEL Financial Secretary Tosan Barbara Onwubiko had earlier filed a petition before the NBA Board of Trustees alleging that Magaji’s name did not appear on the ECNBA’s Notice No. 5, which listed the six aspirants who had complied with the mandatory requirement to submit a Letter of Expression of Interest by the February 20, 2026 deadline, but subsequently appeared on Notice No. 7b as the seventh qualified candidate without explanation. The BOT declined to intervene, with Chairman Dr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, stating the Board does not interfere in electoral contests. Magaji’s name has now survived both the screening and appeals processes and appears on the final list.
Welfare Secretary: Five Candidates
Five candidates will contest for Welfare Secretary: Akinwunmi Laleye, Esq.; Oaikhena Osagie, Esq.; Audrey Chinelo Ofoegbunam, Esq.; Chiwendu Ugochukwu, Esq.; and Ernest Ezindu Uwanaka, Esq.
Publicity Secretary: Two Candidates
Two candidates will contest for Publicity Secretary: Ayewa Shegun Lawrence, Esq. and Dr Prince I. Azubuike.
Assistant Publicity Secretary: Four Candidates
Four candidates are in the race for Assistant Publicity Secretary: Lukman Oladimeji Jaiyeola, Esq.; Aki Uwomano Anthony Junior, Esq.; Hadiza Nasir Ahmad, Esq.; and Meti Monday Ukpeh, Esq.
General Council of the Bar Representatives
The contest for NBA Representatives to the General Council of the Bar is divided into three zones with varying levels of competition.
The Eastern Zone has the largest field with eight candidates: Arinze Celestine Chukwu, Esq.; Assam Akpan Assam, Esq.; Chidi Betsy Nnaji (Mrs.); Dr Celestine Nwaokoma Nwankwo; Daniel Kip, Esq.; Jane Omonor Apollos-James (Mrs.); Joy Obianuju Nnani, Esq.; and Kingsley C. Ehujuo, PhD, ACArb, KSJI.
The Western Zone has only three candidates, who may be returned unopposed: Rotimi Komolafe Esq., Dhikrullah Adewale Balogun (DAB) and Precious Ndidi Nwadimuya, Esq.
The Northern Zone, following the successful appeals of Bulus Yohanna Atsen and Onimisi Friday Umar, now has seven candidates: Ledak D. Dafer, Esq.; Friday Owicho Enejo, Esq.; Muhammad Huwaila Ibrahim, Esq.; Kadir Temim, Esq.; Dr Michael O. Olorunmola; Bulus Yohanna Atsen, FSI; and Onimisi Friday Umar.
Summary of Contests
| Position | Number of Candidates | Contest Type |
|---|---|---|
| President | 3 | Contested |
| First Vice President | 3 | Contested |
| Second Vice President | 1 | Possible Walkover |
| Third Vice President | 1 | Possible Walkover |
| General Secretary | 6 | Contested |
| Assistant General Secretary | 7 | Contested |
| Treasurer | 1 | Possible Walkover |
| Welfare Secretary | 5 | Contested |
| Publicity Secretary | 2 | Contested |
| Assistant Publicity Secretary | 4 | Contested |
| GCB (Eastern Zone) | 8 | Contested |
| GCB (Western Zone) | 2 | Possible Walkover |
| GCB (Northern Zone) | 7 | Contested |
“This List Is Final”
The ECNBA stated unequivocally that the published list represents the definitive outcome of the full screening and appeal processes. “This list is final and represents the outcome of the full screening and appeal processes under the NBA Constitution 2015 (as amended in 2025). Aspirants whose names do not appear herein have been notified individually of the Committee’s decision and had the opportunity to appeal to the National Officers Election Appeals Committee under Part VIII of the Second Schedule,” the notice stated.
The committee reminded all qualified candidates that they remain bound by the provisions of ECNBA Notice No. 4 governing campaigns and all other applicable electoral rules and guidelines. The notice also indicated that further guidelines would be issued setting the commencement and closure dates of campaigns.
With the final candidate list now published, the ECNBA’s attention turns to the remaining steps in the electoral calendar leading to the July 20, 2026, election date. These include the finalisation of the voters list (for which the verification window has already opened), the selection of the IT company that will manage the electronic voting platform from among the six shortlisted firms, the commencement of official campaigning, the aspirants’ debate, and the election itself.
The publication of the final list does not, however, put an end to the broader controversies surrounding the ECNBA’s conduct of the 2026 election process, including the near-N170 million budget that passed NEC without scrutiny, the questions about the Zoho Desk platform used for voter list corrections, the IT procurement transparency concerns, and the unresolved petition filed by Onwubiko before the NBA Board of Trustees.
The notice was dated May 28, 2026, and issued from the ECNBA Secretariat at NBA House, No. 9 Oro-Ago Street, Garki, Abuja, FCT.
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