The Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, ECNBA, has asked members of the Association to disregard a document purportedly suspending the 2026 NBA national officers’ elections scheduled for Saturday, July 18, 2026.
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In a notice dated Tuesday, July 7, 2026, and signed by the ECNBA Chairman, Aham Ejelam, SAN, and Secretary, Ibrahim Aliyu Nassarawa, Esq., the Committee said its attention had been drawn to a document allegedly issued by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, purporting to suspend the forthcoming elections.
The ECNBA said the document, on its face, did not show that it emanated from the office of the AGF, adding that it was contained on “bare sheets of paper” and appeared to fall within the category of an “AI-generated” document.
The Committee, however, maintained that irrespective of the purported document, the ECNBA remains an independent body established under the Nigerian Bar Association Constitution 2015, as amended in 2025, with full powers to conduct elections into national offices of the Association.
According to the notice, once the ECNBA is constituted by the National Executive Council, NEC, it has unfettered powers to superintend and manage the electoral process in line with the NBA Constitution, and not according to the wishes of any individual or group.
The Committee stated that the NBA election fixed for July 18, 2026, would proceed as scheduled, insisting that there is nothing in law preventing the conduct of the poll.
It also disclosed that relevant bodies, including INEC, DSS, Police, NMA, ICAN and other election monitoring and observer groups, would be part of the process for the purpose of evaluating the integrity, transparency and credibility of the election.
The latest notice comes amid earlier intervention by the AGF in disputes surrounding the NBA 2026 elections. Fagbemi had earlier invited past Presidents of the NBA and other stakeholders to a meeting on June 11, 2026, towards an amicable resolution of issues arising from pending suits relating to the elections.
The suits referenced include CA/IB/110/2026 — Aham Ejelam, SAN & 4 Ors v. Ibrahim, Esq. & 7 Ors and I/221/2026 — Ibrahim Lawal, Esq. & Ors v. Incorporated Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association & Ors.
In a previous document on the matter, the AGF said he took cognizance of the fact that two separate suits had been filed against the NBA and other stakeholders before the High Court of Oyo State, Ibadan Judicial Division, in respect of issues relating to the NBA general elections fixed for the end of July 2026.
He also stated that ex parte orders of injunction had been made by the trial court, while appeals against the orders were pending before the Court of Appeal. According to him, when the matter came up before the Court of Appeal on June 1, 2026, he instructed counsel representing his office to seek a short adjournment to enable him, as Chief Law Officer of the Federation and Official Leader of the Nigerian Bar, broker an amicable settlement among the parties.
The Court of Appeal consequently adjourned the matter to June 15, 2026.
However, in its latest notice, the ECNBA insisted that the election timetable remains valid and urged candidates and members to be guided by the revised timetable issued by the Committee.
The ECNBA also confirmed that the Candidates’ Debate and Manifesto Day scheduled for Wednesday, July 8, 2026, will hold at 11:00 a.m. at the NBA National Headquarters, Abuja, in a hybrid format.
According to the guidelines released by the Committee, candidates for the offices of President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Third Vice President and General Secretary will make manifesto presentations and participate in structured debates.
Candidates for Assistant General Secretary, Treasurer, Welfare Secretary, Publicity Secretary, Assistant Publicity Secretary, as well as contestants for NBA representatives on the General Council of the Bar, will only take a bow and will not make presentations.
For the presidential debate, the ECNBA listed Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN; Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, SAN, FCIArb; and Oyinkansola Badejo-Okunsanya, SAN, as participants. The Committee said each presidential candidate will deliver a seven-minute opening statement, respond to moderator questions for three minutes, and make a two-minute closing statement.
The Committee warned candidates, supporters, audience members and service providers that the debate guidelines are binding on all participants, whether attending physically or virtually.
It prohibited campaign materials, banners, branded clothing, placards, posters, flyers, stickers, campaign memorabilia, unauthorised recordings and live social media broadcasts during the event.
The ECNBA further urged members to take advantage of the window provided for scrutiny of the branch-by-branch voters’ list published by the Committee, while dismissing claims that the list was “padded” or “fictitious.”
“Members are assured of a credible, all-inclusive and transparent elections,” the Committee stated.
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