The two rival leadership structures of the Law Students’ Association of Nigeria have signed a joint communiqué agreeing to reunify the association and to convene a Unity Convention in Abuja between 29 November and 3 December 2026.
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The communiqué, adopted at a joint session on 27 September 2026 and signed on 29 September, follows a mediation process initiated to bring both sides together after a leadership crisis which produced two separate structures within the association.
“After extensive discussions and consultations, both sides have acknowledged and accept that the continued existence of separate leadership structures is not in the best interest of LAWSAN, its members, or the legal profession,” the document states.
Under the first resolution, both sides agree to work towards the reunification of the association and to end the existence of separate leadership structures within it, and to pursue “a single and united structure for LAWSAN going forward.”
Both sides agree to convene a Unity Convention “for the purpose of resolving the leadership question and providing a common platform for the Association to move forward,” to be held in Abuja between 29 November and 3 December 2026.
“This agreement supersedes the earlier separate arrangements made by the respective leadership structures to hold conventions in Lagos and Port Harcourt,” the communiqué states. “Accordingly, both sides agree to discontinue those separate convention arrangements and jointly proceed with the Abuja Unity Convention.”
The parties agree to constitute a joint Central Planning Committee comprising representatives of both sides, responsible for the central planning and coordination of the Convention, and provide that any previously constituted separate Central Planning Committees shall cease to operate for that purpose.
They likewise agree to constitute a joint Local Organizing Committee to handle local arrangements and logistics for the Convention in Abuja, with the previously constituted separate committees “collapsed and replaced by a joint Local Organizing Committee.”
On the conduct of the election itself, the communiqué provides for a single LAWSAN Electoral Commission.
“Both sides have also agreed to a single LECOM, jointly appointed by both leadership structures to facilitate a free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive election to produce a single leadership structure for the Association,” it states.
The parties agree to cooperate in good faith towards the successful conduct of the Convention, “to respect the decisions jointly reached under this process and to refrain from taking steps that may undermine the Unity Convention or recreate the divisions that this agreement seeks to resolve.”
Under the heading of the way forward, they record that the resolution of the crisis “requires cooperation, mutual respect, and a commitment to the future of the Association,” and that the Convention is intended to provide a common platform for all members and “to mark a new chapter of unity, stability, and collective progress.”
The final resolution sets out the basis on which the parties say the agreement rests.
“Recognizing the exceptional circumstances arising from the prolonged leadership crisis, the existence of competing leadership structures, and the resulting uncertainty regarding the legitimate process for the continued administration and transition of the Association, the parties, in the interest of preserving the unity, stability and institutional continuity of LAWSAN, invoked the Doctrine of Necessity as an extraordinary and exceptional measure upon which the decisions contained in this communique are founded.”
For the National Executive Council led by Mr. Vincent Dickson, the communiqué is signed by Mr. Vincent P. Dickson and by the Secretary General, Ms. Habiba Mashi.
For the administration led by Mr. Bashiru Aderoju, it is signed by Mr. Bashiru O. Aderoju and by the General Secretary, Ms. Favour Ikechukwu.
It is also signed by the mediator, Mr. Victor Bisong.
The witnesses, described as having attended the joint session at which the resolutions were agreed, are Mr. Emmanuel C. Nwaneri, Senator Ebeigbe Noel Chukwuyem, Mr. Daniel Alabani of the University of Jos, Senator Peremobowei J. Egbunu, Ambassador Oladipo Taye and Mr. Ibraheem Abdulrasheed Damilare.
The communiqué is copied to the Nigerian Bar Association, the Council of Legal Education, the Nigerian Police Force, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, the Student Affairs Desks of the Department of State Services, the 9th LAWSAN Senate and the general public.
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