NBA Urges Members to Vote in Ongoing Election, Reminds of 24-Hour Deadline

The Nigerian Bar Association has urged its members to continue voting in the ongoing national election, reminding them that the exercise will close at 7:35am on Sunday, July 19.

The association made this call in a statement released on its official X handle on Saturday, July 18, where it noted that voting, which started at 7:35am the same day, will run for 24 hours.

Every eligible lawyer has the opportunity to shape the future of our association. Don't wait until the last minute. Cast your vote today and make your voice count.

The reminder came as the presidential contest remained keenly contested, with Senior Advocate of Nigeria Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya strengthening her lead in the race to become the NBA's first elected female president. As of 7:30pm on Saturday, results displayed on the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association portal showed Badejo-Okusanya polling 10,554 votes, representing 46.16 per cent of votes counted.

Her closest challenger, Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe (SAN), had secured 7,020 votes, while Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro (SAN) polled 5,289 votes.

Akangbe alleged that several lawyers, including himself, were experiencing difficulties voting.

In a statement posted on X, he said,

Throughout the ongoing NBA elections, I have received reports from lawyers across the country who say they have been unable to cast their votes due to challenges with the voting process. Regrettably, I have also been unable to cast my own vote despite repeated attempts.

He also alleged that the voting system permitted multiple voting.

We have records showing that the system allows people to vote twice, when it should be one member one vote,

Despite the concerns, Akangbe urged lawyers not to abandon the process.

Continue trying to exercise your right to vote for as long as the voting window remains open. Leadership is tested most in difficult moments.

Let us remain peaceful, resolute, and committed to protecting the credibility of our Association,

Earlier, NBA President Afam Osigwe (SAN) dismissed allegations of interference in the election, insisting that the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association operated independently and that he had no role in influencing the outcome,

Osigwe's comments came as the election heated up, with Badejo-Okusanya and Akangbe battling it out for the top spot.

The race has been keenly contested, with many lawyers hoping for a change in leadership for the NBA.

The current president, Afam Osigwe, has been at the helm of the association for four years and has been praised for his efforts to improve the NBA's image and increase its members' engagement with the association.

However, some lawyers have criticized Osigwe's leadership, saying that he has not done enough to address the challenges facing the NBA and its members.

Badejo-Okusanya, on the other hand, has been a vocal critic of Osigwe's leadership and has promised to bring about reforms if elected.

The winner of the election will take over as the new president of the NBA and will serve a four-year term.

The election is being closely watched by many in the legal profession, who are eager to see who will emerge as the winner.

The Nigerian Bar Association is the umbrella body for all lawyers in Nigeria and has a significant influence on the country's legal landscape.

The association has been in existence for over a century and has played a key role in shaping the country's legal system.

The election is seen as a major test for the NBA, which has been facing challenges in recent years, including a decline in membership and a rise in internal conflicts.

The association has also been criticized for its handling of several high-profile cases, including the #EndSARS protests and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The election will be closely watched by many in the country, who are eager to see who will emerge as the winner and what reforms the new president will bring.

The Nigerian Bar Association has a significant influence on the country's legal landscape and the winner of the election will have a major impact on the association's policies and direction.

The association's members are eagerly waiting for the results of the election, which are expected to be announced on Sunday.

The NBA's election has sparked a lot of interest among Nigerians, with many taking to social media to express their opinions and preferences.

The association has also been trending on social media, with many people sharing their thoughts and opinions on the election.

The Nigerian Bar Association's election is seen as a major test for the association and for the country's legal profession.

The association has been facing challenges in recent years, including a decline in membership and a rise in internal conflicts.

The election is seen as an opportunity for the association to reform and move forward.

The Nigerian Bar Association has a significant influence on the country's legal landscape and the winner of the election will have a major impact on the association's policies and direction.

The association's members are eager to see who will emerge as the winner and what reforms the new president will bring.

The election is being closely watched by many in the country, who are eager to see who will emerge as the winner and what impact the new president will have on the country's legal landscape.

The Nigerian Bar Association's election is a major event in the country's legal calendar and will have significant implications for the association and for the country's legal profession.

Akangbe expressed concerns about the voting system, saying that it allowed for multiple voting.

We have records showing that the system allows people to vote twice, when it should be one member one vote,

However, the NBA has assured its members that the voting system is secure and that members can vote safely.

The association has also assured its members that the results of the election will be announced on Sunday, after the voting process has been completed.

The NBA has urged its members to continue voting and to exercise their right to participate in the democratic process.

The association has also reminded its members that the election is a critical moment for the NBA and for the country's legal profession.

The election is seen as an opportunity for the association to reform and move forward.

The Nigerian Bar Association has a significant influence on the country's legal landscape and the winner of the election will have a major impact on the association's policies and direction.

The association's members are eagerly waiting for the results of the election, which are expected to be announced on Sunday.

The NBA's election has sparked a lot of interest among Nigerians, with many taking to social media to express their opinions and preferences.

The association has also been trending on social media, with many people sharing their thoughts and opinions on the election.

The Nigerian Bar Association's election is seen as a major test for the association and for the country's legal profession.

The association has been facing challenges in recent years, including a decline in membership and a rise in internal conflicts.

The election is seen as an opportunity for the association to reform and move forward.

The Nigerian Bar Association's election is being closely watched by many in the country, who are eager to see who will emerge as the winner and what impact the new president will have on the country's legal landscape.

The NBA has urged its members to continue voting and to exercise their right to participate in the democratic process.

The association has also reminded its members that the election is a critical moment for the NBA and for the country's legal profession.

The association's members are eagerly waiting for the results of the election, which are expected to be announced on Sunday.

The Nigerian Bar Association's election is seen as a major test for the association and for the country's legal profession.

The association has been facing challenges in recent years, including a decline in membership and a rise in internal conflicts.

The election is seen as an opportunity for the association to reform and move forward.

The Nigerian Bar Association's election is being closely watched by many in the country, who are eager to see who will emerge as the winner and what impact the new president will have on the country's legal landscape.

And yet, despite the challenges facing the association, many lawyers are optimistic about the future of the NBA.

The association has a significant influence on the country's legal landscape and the winner of the election will have a major impact on the association's policies and direction.

The Nigerian Bar Association's election is a major event in the country's legal calendar and will have significant implications for the association and for the country's legal profession.

The association's election has sparked a lot of interest among Nigerians, with many taking to social media to express their opinions and preferences.

The NBA's election has also been trending on social media, with many people sharing their thoughts and opinions on the election.

The Nigerian Bar Association is the umbrella body for all lawyers in Nigeria and has a significant influence on the country's legal landscape.

The association has been in existence for over a century and has played a key role in shaping the country's legal system.

The Nigerian Bar Association's election is being closely watched by many in the country, who are eager to see who will emerge as the winner and what impact the new president will have on the country's legal landscape.

The association's members are eagerly waiting for the results of the election, which are expected to be announced on Sunday.

The Nigerian Bar Association's election has sparked a lot of interest among Nigerians, with many taking to social media to express their opinions and preferences.

The NBA's election has also been trending on social media, with many people sharing their thoughts and opinions on the election.

The association has a significant influence on the country's legal landscape and the winner of the election will have a major impact on the association's policies and direction.

The Nigerian Bar Association's election is a major test for the association and for the country's legal profession.

The association has been facing challenges in recent years, including a decline in membership and a rise in internal conflicts.

The election is seen as an opportunity for the association to reform and move forward.

The Nigerian Bar Association's election is being closely watched by many in the country, who are eager to see who will emerge as the winner and what impact the new president will have on the country's legal landscape.