NBA rejects alleged AGF directive to postpone 2026 election, insists process continues
NBA president Afam Osigwe SAN said the association rejected alleged directives from the Attorney General of the Federation seeking to postpone its 2026 national officers’ election, insisting only its National Executive Council has constitutional authority to make such a decision. The alleged directives, contained in a circulating document, reportedly called for disbanding the Electoral Committee of the NBA, postponing the election, replacing the current election service provider, appointing a caretaker committee, introducing National Identification Number verification for voters, and recalibrating the NBA Constitution to remove universal suffrage.
Osigwe stated the NBA is an independent body not subject to the AGF or any government arm, citing the Legal Practitioners Act which limits external interference to specific circumstances that have not arisen. The association said it never received official communication of the alleged recommendations and questioned the document’s authenticity, noting it lacked the AGF’s official letterhead and was never formally conveyed.
Regarding the NIN verification proposal, the NBA said a risk assessment showed the National Identity Management Commission platform might not handle the expected volume of authentication requests, potentially disrupting the election. It also defended the current election service provider, arguing that suggesting a sole proprietor cannot provide election services is discriminatory given many lawyers operate sole proprietorship firms.
The NBA affirmed that its electoral timetable, as set by the ECNBA, will proceed as scheduled, with voting expected in two weeks’ time. Eligible voters should verify their practising fees and branch dues are current and prepare to vote via the ECNBA’s electronic platform when the election opens.