Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has firmly dismissed allegations that the voters' register for the 2026 NBA national elections is fraudulent or padded, describing the claims as unfounded, technically impossible, and legally misconceived. In a statement issued on Tuesday, 7 July 2026, the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) clarified that the published register is the Preliminary Voters Register, compiled strictly in accordance with the provisions of the NBA Constitution 2015 (as amended in 2025). The Committee, which acts under the authority of the NBA President and the NBA Constitution, maintained that only legal practitioners who paid their Annual Practising Fees on or before 31 March 2026 were included, in line with constitutional requirements for voting eligibility.
Reacting to claims that the register merely represents a list of practising fee payers rather than accredited voters, the ECNBA maintained that eligibility to vote is determined by the NBA Constitution and not by participation in the administrative verification exercise. It explained that the verification process was introduced solely to allow eligible members to update or correct their contact details before the register is finalised. The Committee also rejected allegations that the publication of the register could facilitate proxy voting, explaining that the electronic voting system requires each voter to authenticate their identity using their Supreme Court Enrolment Number (SCN) and a unique, time-sensitive One-Time Password (OTP) delivered to the voter's registered email address or telephone number at the point of voting.
According to the Committee, the published register contains only members' names and branches, without email addresses, telephone numbers, or SCNs, making proxy voting technically impossible. On concerns about the inclusion of deceased members' names, the Committee stated that such entries cannot result in fraudulent votes because successful voting still requires live authentication through the registered communication channels. The Committee further noted that every stage of the 2026 NBA electoral process, including the timetable, public notices, appointment of the electronic voting service provider, stakeholder engagements, voter sensitisation programmes, and publication of the preliminary register, has been conducted transparently and in accordance with the NBA Constitution.
The ECNBA confirmed that the Final Voters Register will be published on Friday, 10 July 2026, following the conclusion of the verification and correction exercise, while the 2026 NBA National Elections remain scheduled for Saturday, 18 July 2026. The Committee urged members of the Bar to rely on verified information and avoid misinformation capable of undermining confidence in the electoral process. The NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, had earlier assured the Association's commitment to fair, credible, and transparent internal elections, which he said must reflect the same democratic standards that the NBA demands in Nigeria's national elections.
The allegations of a padded voters' list had been raised by some members of the Bar, who expressed concerns about the integrity of the electoral process. However, the ECNBA's detailed response, endorsed by the NBA President, has sought to allay these fears by providing a comprehensive explanation of the measures in place to ensure a credible election. The Committee's insistence on the technical impossibility of proxy voting, given the multi-layered authentication requirements, is expected to reassure members who had raised concerns about the vulnerability of the electronic voting system to manipulation.
The 2026 NBA national elections are significant, as they will determine the leadership of the association for the next two years. The elections have been preceded by a series of legal and administrative challenges, including a court order that temporarily restrained the ECNBA from proceeding with the electoral process. However, the NBA leadership has remained committed to conducting a transparent and credible election, and the ECNBA's publication of the voters' register is a critical step in that direction.
As the Bar prepares for the elections, the NBA President and the ECNBA have called on all members to participate actively in the process, verify their details on the voters' register, and ensure that they are ready to cast their votes on election day. The NBA President's dismissal of the allegations of a padded voters' list and his reaffirmation of the integrity of the electoral process are expected to bolster confidence in the 2026 NBA elections.
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