President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe (SAN), has assured members that the association’s July 18 presidential election will be closely monitored by the Department of State Services (DSS) and foreign observers to ensure transparency, credibility and the integrity of the electoral process.
Osigwe said the involvement of security agencies and international observers is intended to provide independent oversight and objective reports on the conduct of the election.
Speaking ahead of the poll, the NBA president dismissed allegations that the election could be manipulated, insisting that the process would be free, fair and credible.
According to him, the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) has put adequate measures in place to guarantee a transparent election that reflects the wishes of members.
Responding to allegations that he was attempting to influence the outcome of the election, Osigwe denied having any preferred candidate among the three contenders seeking to succeed him.
The candidates are Olumuyiwa Akinboro (SAN), Lateef Omoyele (SAN) and Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya (SAN), the only female candidate in the race. All three aspirants are from Nigeria’s South-West geopolitical zone.
Osigwe maintained that he has no special interest in any candidate and would not permit the imposition of a successor or succumb to intimidation, blackmail or attempts to tarnish the reputation of the association.
He accused a group identified as Egbe Amofin Oodua of attempting to influence the election by promoting a preferred candidate, contrary to the provisions of the NBA Constitution.
According to him, while the association would not object if candidates voluntarily agreed to step down for one another, it would not support efforts to prevent any qualified aspirant from contesting the election.
The NBA president rejected allegations that he was interfering with the electoral process, stressing that the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) operates independently and does not take directives from the NBA President or any other official.
He reiterated his commitment to ensuring a credible election capable of producing a president who would enjoy the confidence of both lawyers and the wider Nigerian public.
To further reassure members of his neutrality, Osigwe disclosed that he had decided not to vote in the election.
“I will not vote in that election if that would give them comfort. I have never asked or forced anybody to vote for any particular candidate because all I want is a seamless transition,” he said.
He also warned that allegations of planned rigging, if unfounded, could damage the reputation of the legal profession and the NBA.
“In this election, I would want them to hold me responsible and accountable. We will ensure that this election is the most credible in the history of the NBA,” Osigwe stated.
He urged members to allow democracy to flourish and avoid spreading rumours, blackmail or unsubstantiated allegations capable of undermining confidence in the process.
Osigwe also confirmed that a service provider engaged for the election was recently arrested.
However, he disclosed that the individual had since been released, although some laptops belonging to the service provider remained in the custody of security authorities.
He did not indicate whether the incident would affect preparations for the election.
READ MORE: Lawyers Seek NBA Election Delay Over Transparency Concerns
The NBA president’s comments come amid renewed calls by Egbe Amofin Oodua, a forum of Yoruba lawyers, for the postponement of the election over concerns about transparency and credibility.
The group, led by its Governing Council Chairman, Isiaka Olagunju (SAN), has argued that the election should be delayed to allow the implementation of agreed electoral reforms.
Among the proposed reforms is the replacement of the current email-based authentication system with members’ National Identification Number (NIN)-linked phone numbers to reduce the risk of manipulation and strengthen confidence in the electronic voting process.
Olagunju has also accused the NBA leadership of failing to implement reforms previously agreed upon during discussions with stakeholders and presidential candidates.
Despite the concerns, Osigwe maintained that the election would proceed under robust monitoring arrangements involving the DSS, foreign observers and the independent electoral committee, while assuring members that every eligible candidate would be given a level playing field.