Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja Branch, Dr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani, SAN, has urged the leadership and stakeholders of the NBA to address recurring concerns over the credibility, transparency and auditability of the Association’s electoral process ahead of the 2026 National Officers’ Election.
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Ubani, a former 2nd Vice President of the NBA and former Chairman of NBA-SPIDEL, made the call during the Quarterly Meeting of the Eastern Bar Forum held in Owerri, Imo State, over the weekend.
Speaking on the controversy surrounding the forthcoming NBA election, the senior lawyer said although the Attorney-General of the Federation and the committee set up to examine the electoral crisis may not have statutory powers to halt or postpone the election, the concerns raised in the committee’s advisory should not be ignored.
According to him, the observations go to the heart of the integrity and credibility of the NBA electoral process and deserve serious consideration by members of the Bar.
He said the issues should not be dismissed merely because the committee lacks legal authority to interfere with the conduct of the election.
Ubani noted that the NBA has, over the years, faced repeated controversies over its national elections, adding that virtually every election conducted by the Association since 2018 has produced disputes, petitions and litigation.
He recalled that in one instance, controversies arising from NBA elections resulted in criminal prosecutions involving some staff of the NBA Secretariat, although the affected persons were eventually discharged and acquitted.
The former NBA-SPIDEL Chairman expressed concern that questions surrounding the fairness, transparency and credibility of the Association’s online voting system have continued to create distrust among members.
According to him, many lawyers remain concerned about the integrity of the electoral platform and the inability of stakeholders to independently verify the voting process.
While acknowledging that the 2026 NBA election may proceed as scheduled, Ubani said the Association must not ignore the recurring issues that have repeatedly undermined confidence in its electoral outcomes.
He stressed the need for greater transparency in the administration of the election, including improved access to the backend architecture of the voting platform, independent verification mechanisms and safeguards that would assure members that the process is free, fair, credible and auditable.
“The critical issues of transparency, credibility and accountability must be addressed if the NBA is to avoid another cycle of post-election disputes and litigation,” he said.
According to him, the objective should not merely be to conduct an election, but to conduct one whose outcome commands widespread acceptance and confidence among members.
Ubani also warned against what he described as a culture of silence among stakeholders on matters affecting the institutional health of the Association.
He disclosed that after his intervention at the EBF meeting, many lawyers reached out to him through calls and messages, commending him for openly raising concerns which they privately shared but were reluctant to publicly express.
He said the absence of public criticism should not be mistaken for consensus or satisfaction.
“Many people assume that because there is little public opposition, everything is normal. That assumption can be dangerous. Sometimes silence is not a sign of peace; it is merely the silence of the graveyard,” he said.
Ubani called on the NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, NBA leaders, electoral officials, candidates and other stakeholders to use the ongoing debate as an opportunity to undertake meaningful reforms that would strengthen confidence in the Association’s democratic process and protect its institutional integrity.
He maintained that a credible electoral system remains indispensable to the NBA’s standing as Nigeria’s foremost professional association of lawyers.
Ubani also recalled that the NBA Electoral Reform Committee, which he chaired, had earlier submitted recommendations to the outgoing NBA President, stressing that the leadership of the Bar must continue to prioritise transparency, accountability and inclusiveness in all elections, including the forthcoming one.
He concluded that the NBA must treat the current concerns seriously if it hopes to avoid another round of post-election disputes and preserve public confidence in the legal profession.
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