NBA Election: Ejelam, SAN, Defends July 18 Polls Date, Calls Out Yomi Alliyu, SAN

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has stood firm on its plan to hold its 2026 national officers’ election on July 18.

Chief Aham Ejelam, SAN, Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the NBA, made this known in a statement on Sunday, saying the election date was fixed in accordance with the revised timetable earlier published by the ECNBA.

Ejelam, SAN, dismissed calls for his resignation, which he said were founded on fabricated assumptions and unverified allegations.

The ECNBA Chairman said: 'I have read the open letter dated 11 July 2026, authored by my learned friend and call mate, Chief Yomi Alliyu, SAN, in which he called upon me to resign as Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA).

'Ordinarily, I would not respond to a publication founded on fabricated assumptions, unverified allegations and matters presently awaiting judicial determination.

'However, because his letter seeks to question the integrity of the ECNBA and may mislead members of the Nigerian Bar Association, it has become necessary to place a few facts on record.'

Ejelam, SAN, explained that the NBA's electoral schedule would be adhered to unless altered by a competent constitutional authority.

He also maintained that the Electoral Committee derived its authority from the Constitution of the NBA and decisions of competent organs of the Association.

The ECNBA Chairman said the Committee remained focused and not distracted by political pressure from any quarter.

He said: 'The Committee’s responsibility is to ensure that the voters’ register is prepared from records lawfully available to the Nigerian Bar Association and that appropriate safeguards are implemented to protect the integrity of the electoral process.'

In response to an allegation made by Yomi Alliyu, SAN, that the ECNBA service provider was imposed upon the Committee, Ejelam, SAN, explained that the Committee considered the information and representations placed before it in the course of the procurement and engagement process.

He said: 'The legal structure of a service provider, without more, does not establish incompetence, illegality or electoral compromise.'

The ECNBA Chairman also addressed an allegation regarding the filing of annual returns at the Corporate Affairs Commission, saying: 'An allegation concerning the filing of annual returns at the Corporate Affairs Commission does not, by itself, establish that the provider lacks the technical competence to perform the contracted services or that the ECNBA has engaged in wrongdoing.'

Ejelam, SAN, concluded by saying that any person possessing credible evidence of electoral compromise or wrongdoing should submit that evidence formally to the Committee or to the appropriate investigative authority.