Egbe Amofin O’odua has rejected the 2026 National Officers Elections of the Nigerian Bar Association and the results arising from the exercise, declaring that it will not lend its institutional imprimatur to an electoral process it describes as fundamentally compromised by substantial procedural and technological irregularities.
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The position is contained in a communique adopted at the group’s Extraordinary General Meeting held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Saturday, 8 August 2026, and signed by its Chairman, Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju, SAN, and General Secretary, Prince Adeniyi Adetunji Oso.
The communique states that the meeting was convened after careful consideration of the state of the Association, the conduct and outcome of the 2026 elections, the complaints raised by participating presidential candidates and other members of the Bar, and the broader implications of the process for the integrity, unity and future of the legal profession.
The communique opens by acknowledging what it calls the quality of leadership, intellectual contribution, sacrifice and institutional guidance provided to the Nigerian Bar by distinguished Yoruba leaders of the profession, particularly leading Senior Advocates, eminent practitioners, members of the Board of Trustees of Egbe Amofin and other elders of the profession.
It singles out Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, recognising “the exemplary leadership and enduring contribution” of the silk “as a focal point of the tradition of excellence, dignity, intellectual depth and professional responsibility for which the Yoruba Bar has historically been known.”
The group affirms that the contributions of those leaders “constitute an invaluable inheritance which succeeding generations must preserve and advance.”
Turning to the poll, Egbe Amofin expresses what it terms its deepest disappointment and unequivocal condemnation of the conduct of the elections.
It commends the intervention of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, describing him as the leader of the Bar in Nigeria, and states that his intervention aimed at ensuring a credible Bar election “unfortunately was spinned as ‘hijack’ by the cabal that has held NBA hostage.”
The communique then states its position in direct terms. “For the avoidance of any doubt, Egbe Amofin condemns in strong terms the sham process called the 2026 NBA national election organized by the current NBA Executive led by Afam Osigwe, SAN. Never in the history of the NBA, even in its challenges over the years, have we had such a spectacle of a show called an election. No responsible organization with integrity will identify with such an election nor its outcome.”
It adds: “Consequently, Egbe Amofin dissociates itself from the sham elections and its consequential outcomes.”
The group states that it reviewed the circumstances surrounding the election, including widespread complaints concerning the electronic voting system, voter authentication, accessibility of the voting platform, the competence and suitability of the appointed service providers, the interruption and subsequent resumption of voting, the reported disenfranchisement of a substantial number of eligible voters, the inability of presidential candidates themselves to vote, the reported use of multiple voting platforms, and other alleged departures from the prescribed electoral framework.
On that review, it concludes that the election “in its present form, falls seriously short of the standards of credibility, transparency, fairness, equity and procedural integrity expected of the Nigerian Bar Association.”
The communique itemises the concerns raised. They are: questions concerning the constitutionality and propriety of the composition and appointment of the ECNBA; concerns regarding the appointment, competence, capacity and track record of the electronic voting service provider and other service providers engaged; concerns relating to the corporate governance and regulatory compliance history of the appointed service providers; and concerns regarding the alleged lack of demonstrated experience by the electronic voting service provider in conducting an election of the scale and sensitivity of the NBA national election.
The list continues with the failure to incorporate NIN-based authentication as an additional safeguard after it was allegedly represented to candidates that such verification would form part of the electoral security architecture; the failure and prolonged inaccessibility of the electronic voting platform shortly after voting commenced; the non-receipt of OTPs by eligible voters, preventing them from authenticating themselves and exercising their franchise; and the reported disenfranchisement of tens of thousands of eligible lawyers, with only a minority of registered voters ultimately recorded as having voted.
It further lists the reported inability of presidential candidates, including candidates seeking the mandate of the Bar, to exercise their right to vote; concerns regarding the use of more than one voting website or platform and the implications for the integrity, consistency and auditability of the election; the alleged extension of the voting period beyond the originally advertised closing time, raising questions concerning equal treatment of voters and adherence to predetermined electoral rules; concerns arising from the alteration of the electronic ballot presentation, including reported changes concerning the display of a presidential candidate’s name and photograph following the initial suspension of voting; and broader concerns regarding transparency, accountability, fairness, equal opportunity and compliance with the NBA Constitution and the electoral guidelines.
The group acknowledges that these matters “include allegations requiring proper investigation and verification.” It nonetheless concludes that “the sheer volume and seriousness of the complaints, viewed together with the admitted technical difficulties and the exceptionally low voter participation, are sufficient to raise grave questions concerning the credibility and legitimacy of the electoral process.”
Accordingly, it states, “Egbe Amofin O’odua rejects the 2026 NBA General Elections as conducted and rejects the results purportedly flowing from the said process,” and “does not recognise, and shall not lend its institutional imprimatur to, the outcome of an electoral process which, in its considered view, was fundamentally compromised.”
The communique calls for immediate, comprehensive and holistic reform of the Association’s electoral architecture, and sets out what such reform must include.
It lists a transparent and independent mechanism for the constitution and appointment of the ECNBA; clear safeguards against actual or perceived conflicts of interest and undue influence; transparent procurement and appointment of election service providers; demonstrable technical competence and independently verifiable track records for all election technology providers; robust, independent and auditable voter authentication mechanisms; and adequate testing and certification of electoral technology before deployment.
It further requires publication and verification of a reliable voters’ register within sufficient time; a clearly defined and immutable electoral timetable; effective and independently monitored complaint and incident reporting mechanisms; comprehensive audit trails capable of independent forensic verification; meaningful participation of candidates and stakeholders in testing and validating the electoral system; and an effective mechanism for the preservation of electoral data, logs and other electronic evidence in the event of a dispute.
The group states the principle it draws from the exercise: “The NBA must never again conduct an election in which the credibility of the electoral process becomes a matter of speculation after voting has commenced.”
Egbe Amofin resolved to commence immediately the process of establishing and inaugurating State Branches of the Egbe across Nigeria, “with a view to strengthening the institutional presence, unity, participation and effectiveness of the Egbe within the Nigerian Bar Association.”
The branches, it says, “shall serve as platforms for consultation, mobilisation, professional development, protection of the legitimate interests of members and the promotion of the values of justice, fairness, integrity and institutional independence.”
The communique places on record the group’s appreciation of members who, it says, demonstrated courage, steadfastness, loyalty and fidelity to the values of Omoluabi throughout the recent developments.
It particularly appreciates “those members who, notwithstanding pressure, personal interests, inducements or political considerations, remained faithful to the principles of fairness, justice, truth and institutional integrity,” adding that “Omoluabi is not merely an expression of cultural identity; it is a moral obligation to do what is right even when doing so is inconvenient or personally disadvantageous.”
The group directs a warning to anyone aspiring to lead the Association.
“The leadership of the Bar is not an inheritance. It is not a commodity. It is not a prize to be obtained by manipulation, influence, inducement, technological manipulation, institutional capture or any other crooked means,” the communique states.
It adds: “The Nigerian Bar Association belongs to all its members. No individual, group, faction, office holder, electoral committee, service provider or political interest is greater than the institution of the Bar. The Bar must be led by the free will of its members, expressed through a credible, transparent, verifiable and genuinely democratic electoral process.”
The group warns that “any attempt to obtain or retain leadership of the Bar through manipulation of electoral machinery, disenfranchisement of members, abuse of institutional power, manipulation of electoral rules, technological vulnerabilities or any other means inconsistent with the principles of fair play shall be resisted by all lawful and legitimate means.”
It sums up the warning in one line. “You may manipulate a process; you cannot permanently manipulate history. You may capture an office; you cannot capture the conscience of the Bar.”
The communique states that the group’s position “is not motivated by personal animosity towards any individual candidate or office holder,” and that its concern “is fundamentally about the integrity and future of the Nigerian Bar Association.”
It observes that “institutions survive not merely because individuals occupy offices, but because those who lead them respect the rules, protect the institutions and preserve the confidence of their members,” and calls on all well meaning members of the Association to join in the task of restoring confidence in its electoral and governance structures.
It closes that section with the line that frames the whole document. “The Bar must remain a citadel of justice. The Bar cannot credibly preach democracy to society while practising a democracy that its own members cannot trust.”
In summary, the group condemns in the strongest terms the serious irregularities and deficiencies alleged to have characterised the elections; rejects the electoral process and the results arising from it; calls for a comprehensive and independent review and forensic examination of the electoral process and the electronic voting infrastructure; calls for immediate and fundamental reform of the NBA electoral system; resolves to establish and inaugurate State Branches across Nigeria; commends members who demonstrated courage, fidelity, integrity and commitment to the principles of Omoluabi; and resolves to continue defending the integrity, independence, dignity and democratic traditions of the Association through all lawful and legitimate means.
It also resolves to establish an annual lecture in honour of Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, “in appreciation of his commitment and dedication towards achieving the aims and objectives of Egbe Amofin O’odua since inception.”
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