The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has dismissed reports alleging that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) directed the postponement of its 2026 national officers’ election, insisting that such authority rests solely with the association’s National Executive Council (NEC).
In a statement issued by NBA President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), the association maintained that it is an independent professional body and is not subject to directives from the Office of the Attorney General or any other arm of government.
The NBA was reacting to a document circulating online which purportedly recommended the dissolution of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), postponement of the election, appointment of a caretaker committee, replacement of the current election service provider, introduction of National Identification Number (NIN) verification for voters, and amendments to the NBA Constitution.
Rejecting the alleged recommendations, the association described them as unconstitutional and beyond the legal powers of the Attorney General, stressing that the Legal Practitioners Act does not authorize the AGF to interfere in the internal affairs of the NBA.
Osigwe stated that the 2026 national officers’ election would proceed as scheduled under the supervision of the ECNBA.
The dispute stems from legal challenges filed by members of Egbe Amofin O’odua before the Oyo State High Court over the conduct of the NBA’s forthcoming election.
According to the NBA, a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Attorney General on June 11 was intended solely to facilitate dialogue and encourage the withdrawal of pending court cases through a sub-committee. The association argued that the committee was never empowered to investigate the NBA leadership or issue binding decisions on the electoral process.
The NBA also questioned the authenticity of the circulating report, noting that it was neither officially communicated to the association nor issued on the official letterhead of the Office of the Attorney General.
Addressing calls for mandatory NIN verification during voting, the association said it had already assessed the proposal and concluded that introducing the system at this stage could disrupt the electronic voting process due to possible technical limitations.
The association also defended its current election service provider, stating that there was no evidence of misconduct or incompetence that would justify replacing the firm.
Reaffirming its commitment to due process, the NBA maintained that any recommendations arising from mediation could only become effective if accepted by all parties involved and could not be imposed as binding directives.
With preparations already at an advanced stage, including candidate screening, publication of the final voters’ register, and voter education, the association said the election timetable remains unchanged and the electronic voting process will proceed as planned.
