NBA Ilorin Branch Writes ECNBA Over Non-Verification Of Members, Urges Committee To Overhaul The Whole Process

The Chairman of the NBA Ilorin branch, MAI Akande Esq has forwarded a letter to the Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the Bar, Prof. Auwalu Yadudu over the non-verification of some members of the branch. According to the letter, over 80% of members of the branch are yet to be verified despite several attempts by its members to get themselves verified. The branch is therefore calling for an overhauling of the whole process to make the system work better. Below reads the letter: The Chairman Electoral Committee Nigerian Bar Association NBA House Plot 1101 Muhammad Buhari Way Abuja Through: The Office of the President Nigerian Bar Association Dear Sir, INABILITY OF OVER EIGHTY PERCENT (80%)OF ELIGIBLE VOTERS IN ILORIN BRANCH TO VERIFY THEIR STATUS IN THE FORTHCOMING ELECTION OF NATIONAL OFFICERS OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION With utmost respect to your office, we write with sober reflection on the above subject matter. This letter could not be earlier than now considering the fact that the majority of our Branch members patiently went through the rigour of verification exercise since the website was made accessible on the 31st July 2018 by the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) but unfortunately till date it is an exercise in futility. Being the 8th Branch with the largest number of voters, we persuaded our members to be steadfast and keep trying to get verified but all to no avail. The problem of inability to generate access code, non-delivery or delay in delivery of of the expired access (through email or SMS), inability to get password or outright lack of information/data of prospective eligible voters on the CRENET TECHLABS database is overwhelming It may interest your Honour to note that we made several attempts to get our members verified including rendering of technical support and calls to the members at odd hours to get verified; believing that the cyber traffic will be less congested at late night or in the early hours of the day but this recorded very little success. Aside the fact that the election that produced the present National Officers in 2016 was conducted through e-voting. It may interest you sir, to note that the 2018 Branch Election that produced the incumbent Branch Officers in Ilorin Branch was done through through e-voting. Therefore, the majority our members in Ilorin Branch are well enlightened and experienced in the usage of IT to conduct internet surveys and online/electronic voting but the inefficiency of the present service provider has disenfranchised overwhelming majority of our members. Consequently, we have diligently conducted a survey and collation of data coupled with wider consultation with our Branch members on the progress made so far and it is our conclusion that a figure above 80% of the eligible prospective voters are yet to be verified notwithstanding the fact that the present verification process commenced about a week ago. Considering the foregoing, it is our humble prayer for a review and general overhaul of the present verification process (and not mere extension of time) having been crystal clear that a process that could not get 15% of eligible voters verified within a week, logically cannot achieve 70% success within a month. We need to retrace our steps and rejuvenate the entire electoral process in order to record huge success. Above for your information and kind consideration Mr. Chairman. Be assured of the warmest professional regards of the Ilorin Bar. MAI Akande Esq. Chairman, NBA Ilorin Branch]]>