Committee of Chairmen of 8 Branches In Rivers State Writes ECNBA Over Difficulty in Verification Process, Seeks Its Review

The Committee of the Chairmen of the eight branches of the Nigerian Bar Association in Rivers State has written a letter to the Electoral Committee of the NBA to review the verification process ahead of the NBA National Election. The Committee made it clear that such difficulty and confusion have never been experienced before, as over 90 percent of their members are yet to be verified. Below is the letter made available to TheNigerialawyer COMMITTEE OF THE CHAIRMEN OF THE EIGHT (8) BRANCHES OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION

•     (NBA) IN RIVERS STATE

  C/o NBA PH Branch NBA Port Harcourt House No.1 Bank Road Port Harcourt. 08033091301 August 3, 2018. The Chairman, Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), NBA House, National Secretariat, Plot 1101MohammaduBuhari Way, Central Business District, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria. Dear Sir, DEMAND FOR REVIEW OF THE ONGOING VERIFICATION EXERCISE FOR THE 2018 NBA ELECTION As the Chairmen of the Eight (8) Branches of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Rivers State, we draw your attention to the grave and unbelievable challenges being faced by members of our various Branches with the current electoral process and respectfully urge you to review the ongoing verification exercise for the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Election scheduled to hold on the 6^th and 7^th August, 2018. At no time in our history, have we witnessed the level of confusion, difficulty and outright attempt to disenfranchise eligible and valid voters to participate in their own election. The process has been at best nightmarish and unworkable. Till date, 95% of members from our Branches have not been able to verify and stand no chance of being so verified before the election and will therefore not be able to vote in the election. In the case of NBA Okrika Branch, the Branch and its entire membership are excluded. Our point and real concern is how can you sincerely and honestly hold or conduct any meaningful election if qualified and willing voters cannot vote. We have about 4,000 members in the 8 Branches and we will face intense pressure, dissent and ridicule if these members are disenfranchised. In order to avert a major crises in our branches and in the NBA generally, we strongly demand that you revisit the entire verification exercise and the election until such a time that you can guarantee openness, a workable process and full participation of all our eligible members. We hope that you will heed our demand herein. Yours Sincerely, For the Eight(8) NBA Branches in Rivers State; ………………………………………………                 ……………………………………………… Sylvester Adaka, Esq.                              Abbot Ogbogbula, Esq.       Chairman, NBA PH Branch.                      Chairman, NBA Ahoada Branch. ………………………………………………                 ……………………………………………… Godson Owhoji, Esq.                              N. K.Saronwiyo, Esq. Chairman, NBA Isiokpo Branch.               Chairman, NBA Bori Branch. ………………………………………………..               ………………………………………………… Eucharia S. Pepple, Esq.                         Prof.Ritchard A.Nwokocha Chairman, NBA Degema Branch.              Chairman, NBA Omoku Branch. ……………………………………………….                ………………………………………………… Dr.Felix C. Amadi                                    Golden O. Tamuno, Esq. Chairman, NBA OkehiBranch.                  Chairman, NBA Okrika Branch. Cc:

• Chief Richard Akinjide, CON, SAN.

E-mail: akinjideco@metrong.com

• Chief Charles IdehenEsq.

• Chief (Mrs)PrisciliaKuye

priscillakuye@hyperia.com

• Chief T. J. O. Okpoko, OON, SAN.

okpoko@okpokolawpractice.com

• O.C.J. Okocha, MFR, SAN, JP.

manuchim@yahoo.com

• Chief Sole Olanipekun, OFR, SAN.

info@woleolanipekun.com

• Chief BayoOjo, CON, SAN.

cabayoojo@aol.com

• Prince LankeOdogiyan

lankeodogiyon@yahoo.com

• OlisaAgbakoba, SAN.

olisa@alisaagbakoba-associates.com

• His Excellency, OluwarotimiOdunayoAkeredolu, SAN.

olujinmiakeredolu@yahoo.co.uk   (11.) J. B. Daudu, SAN. daudu@hotmail.com

• Okey E. Wali SAN, DSSRS

okeywaliandco@yahoo.com

• Augustine Alegeh, SAN.

alegeh@yahoo.com

• B. Mahmoud, SAN.

NBA President]]>