The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is at a crossroads as its national elections approach, with three Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) eyeing the presidency. Amidst the power play, the court has ruled that the Association must adopt a consensus candidate for the Western Zone, where the presidency is zoned.
The Ejelam-led Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), responsible for conducting elections into national offices, has cleared 35 candidates for various positions. Among them are three SANs vying for the NBA presidency: Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, of the Abuja Branch; Ms. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okunsanya, SAN, of the Lagos Branch; and Mr. Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, SAN, also of the Lagos Branch.
The zoning arrangement for the presidency is intended to promote fairness in NBA leadership allocation and foster political stability within the organisation. However, a consensus deal has led to allegations of bias against the current national leadership of the body. The Incorporated Trustees of Egbe Amofin O’odua, an association of lawyers of Yoruba extraction, is insisting that the NBA should adopt Aare Akinboro, SAN, as the sole candidate for the election, having declared him its consensus candidate for the Western Zone.
Justice Y. S. Adekunle of the Oyo State High Court granted an interim injunction barring the NBA from recognising or processing nominations outside the Yoruba lawyers’ consensus candidate arrangement for the presidency. Another interim injunction was issued by Justice G. A. Opayinka to halt all steps toward conducting the 2026 NBA elections.
The NBA Constitution establishes a universal suffrage system conducted through electronic voting, with the electorate comprising lawyers who have paid their practising fees and branch dues. The Association's national elections are due in two days' time, but the ongoing court battles threaten to derail the process.
Aare Akinboro, SAN, has been a member of the NBA since 1991 and has held various positions within the Association. He is currently the President of the Egbe Amofin O’odua. Mr. Akinboro has been a strong advocate for the rights of lawyers and has fought against perceived injustices within the Association.
Ms. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okunsanya, SAN, is a respected lawyer and has served in various capacities within the NBA. She is the only female candidate in recent times to vie for the presidency. Mr. Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, SAN, has also been a member of the NBA since 2003 and has held various positions within the Association.
The fate of the 2026 NBA elections hangs in the balance as the court rulings and power play continue to shape the outcome. The Association's national leadership is under pressure to resolve the issues and ensure a smooth conduct of the elections.
The Incorporated Trustees of Egbe Amofin O’odua have been at the forefront of the campaign to ensure that Aare Akinboro, SAN, emerges as the Association's President. Mr. Gabriel Ojo Adekunle Ijalana is part of the four aggrieved lawyers who filed a lawsuit to prevent the NBA leadership and ECNBA members from parading themselves as officials or taking any further action toward the election.
The NBA's national elections are due to take place soon, and the ongoing court battles threaten to derail the process. The Association's national leadership is under pressure to resolve the issues and ensure a smooth conduct of the elections.
The court rulings have further complicated the situation, with the Incorporated Trustees of Egbe Amofin O’odua insisting that the NBA should adopt Aare Akinboro, SAN, as the sole candidate for the election. The NBA's national leadership is facing a tough task in resolving the issues and ensuring a smooth conduct of the elections.
The fate of the 2026 NBA elections hangs in the balance as the court rulings and power play continue to shape the outcome. The Association's national leadership is under pressure to resolve the issues and ensure a smooth conduct of the elections.