Despite recent internal conflicts and legal challenges, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is moving forward with its national elections. On June 18, the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA) published the official list of 35 verified candidates vying for various national leadership positions in the poll set for July 20.
Three Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) have been cleared to compete for the presidency, a position currently zoned to the Western region. The presidential hopefuls include Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, Ms. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okunsanya, SAN, and Mr. Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, SAN. The ECNBA, chaired by Aham Ejelam, has already released the credentials and manifestos for all cleared candidates to ensure transparency.
The election process follows the establishment of a five-member electoral body approved at the November 2025 National Executive Council meeting. While the association aims for a smooth transition, its path has been complicated by litigation. Disputes arose regarding a consensus agreement within the Western zone, leading to lawsuits such as those filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Egbe Amofin O’odua and other concerned lawyers. These legal actions initially resulted in interim injunctions against the election process, yet the ECNBA has continued its mandate to oversee the transition of the organization, which represents over 140,000 legal professionals.
The upcoming vote will utilize a universal suffrage system through electronic ballots. As the NBA prepares to select its leadership for the 2026-2028 term, candidates have largely centered their platforms on the welfare of members across the association’s 128 branches.
