The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Electoral Committee(ECNBA) , Mr. Tawo E. Tawo, SAN has denied the allegations alleging that ECNBA maliciously excluded names of some members of the NBA Abuja Branch from the released provisional voters lists.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Chairman dated 30th day of June, 2020 which was made available to TheNigeriaLawyer.

Furthermore, it was noted that what determines eligibility to be on the list is the criteria set out by the ECNBA and therefore, not meeting the criteria means non eligibility.

The statement reads:

NBA NATIONAL ELECTIONS 2020: COMPILATION OF VOTERS REGISTER

The attention of the ECNBA has been drawn to certain statements to the effect that the names of members of the Abuja branch of the NBA were being maliciously excluded and or omitted from the voters register by the ECNBA. Nothing can be farther from the truth.

The ECNBA in the morning of June 30, 2020 received by email a list from Abuja (Unity Branch) captioned “LIST OF OMITTED BRANCH MEMBERS” stating that the said names were omitted from the second provisional list. The committee expected that such a complaint ought to have be accompanied with proof of payments of branch dues to establish any wrongful omission but that was not so.

The desire and essence of compiling a credible voters register prompted the publication of the 1st and 2nd interim voters register by the committee inviting members to file complaints (if any) for possible rectification. The statement of malicious exclusion of members by Abuja branch is therefore untrue.

However, Abuja branch had after several requests and extension of timelines submitted two separate lists with statements of accounts from Access and Keystone Banks, albeit due to the Abuja peculiar situation, which statements have been and are still being scrutinized to ascertain those who paid the branch dues as at when due. Any member’s name not reflected on the statements of account or who has not shown proof of payment of branch dues as at when due will not be listed in the voters register for the 2020 National Elections. Individual complaints are being addressed by the ECNBA more so as the election is by universal suffrage.

The ECNBA will not disenfranchise any eligible voter who provided proof of eligibility to vote within the time stipulated by ECNBA, consequently, the committee will not be responsible for the disenfranchisement of any member who has failed to provide proof of eligibility to vote.

Dated this 30th day of June 2020
Tawo E Tawo, SAN
ECNBA Chairman

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