By Precious Nwadimuya, Esq.
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The much awaited NBA National elections has come and gone. No doubt it was keenly contested. Some won and others didn’t win, yes indeed only one person can win at a time. While it is heart warming to know that some of the candidates we campaigned for won the elections, we shouldn’t loose sleep over those who lost.
They only intended to serve the Bar but didn’t have the opportunity on the next NBA National Exco, however other avenues for service remain open.
For me, it is our electoral system above everything else that won. You will certainly agree with me that in a long time we have not seen an electoral process that is as credible as the one we just saw in the last 24 hours. It was openly transparent for all to see and monitor.
Some of the initial glitches which bordered on compilation of the voters register is not a fault attributable to the ECNBA, it is one we can easily attribute to the members, the NBA branches and the National Secretariat which is compelled by the provisions of the NBA Constitution. We must also accept the fact that the ECNBA and all stakeholders worked under strange circumstances in view of the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
While I may not be proud of the levels some of our campaign models took and while I may not be proud of the recurring perennial issues we have with the compilation of our voters register, I am super proud of the actual conduct of the elections and the results that emanated therefrom. I am proud of the ECNBA led by Tawo Tawo, SAN (special mention is given to my mentor in righteous governance, Alozie Echeonwu) and I am proud of Paul Usoro, SAN for raising the Bar on transparency in NBA finances and now transparency in NBA elections.
I am proud of active NBA electorates who were not content with criticising the process but took steps to take advantage of the available channels for rectifying whatever problem they had with the process that was capable of disenfranchising them. All those who voted and all those who made effort to vote in this election are the real MVPs.
My recommendation for solving the problem of compilation of our voters register is that reliance should be placed on the data collated by the National Secretariat for stamp and seal. The requirements for applying for stamp and seal is the same requirement for voting in a National Election, but what most branches do in a bid to shore up their voting strength is to submit the names of every Tom, Dick and Harry including the names of late members and those who didn’t meet up with the branch requirements.
In closing, let me congratulate Messrs Olumide Akpata, John Obaika Aikpokpo-Martins, Chief Debo Kazeem Adeyemo, Joyce Odua, Uchenna Esther Nwadialor, Olukunle Edun, Rapuluchukwu Ernest Nduka, Ferdinand Afam Naza for coming out victorious after a keenly contested election. You fought hard and you won gallantly.
The journey was made easy for Mercy Ijato Agada and Raphael Nnamdi Anagor in view of their solo race. It is my prayer that this team will unite to RAISE THE BAR in so many areas including trouble free elections so that Nigeria and INEC will learn from us how to do things rightly, beginning with elections. Truly, the conduct of this election has given me renewed hope that Nigeria can do things rightly if we put our mind to do it rightly.
Long live Nigeria Bar Association!
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!
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