A former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Oron Branch, Chief Godwin O. Effiong, has raised questions over what he described as the silence of Professor Chidi Odinkalu on issues surrounding the electoral process of the Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL) of the NBA.

In a commentary, Effiong expressed concern that while Odinkalu had been outspoken on broader governance and justice issues, he had not publicly addressed controversies relating to the SPIDEL election and decisions connected to the constitution of the NBA Electoral Committee. Effiong also suggested that reactions from some members of the Bar indicate growing calls for greater transparency and consistency in the defence of institutional principles within the Association.

“….Equally striking is the silence of Professor Chidi Odinkalu himself. At that very conference, he delivered a keynote address chastising the political class and the judiciary as the principal sources of Nigeria’s problems, yet when it came to defending the soul of SPIDEL, not with blood, but merely with words, he was nowhere to be found. Admirable restraint, perhaps, or simply impeccable timing. One must applaud such discipline.

Where, one must ask again, were these “activists” when the President single-handedly constituted the Nigerian Bar Association Electoral Committee and inaugurated its members, flagrantly ignoring the clear provisions of the Constitution that vest that responsibility in the NEC? Where were they when the President and his circle effectively converted the Association into the campaign machinery of their preferred candidate, deploying every available platform, AGC, Unbarred, and NEC meetings, to advance her candidacy while systematically shutting out other aspirants? In their estimation, it seems, the President can do no wrong. Such loyalty is almost touching.

The truth, however, is that the majority of NBA members who genuinely care about the Association are not swayed by this selective outrage. They recognize it for what it is. Indeed, a female aspirant who was unjustly disqualified during the last SPIDEL election recently posted the following on a group WhatsApp platform regarding Professor Odinkalu’s newfound voice, and her words speak volumes:

“What a joke! This was a man who clearly knew that the President was undermining the SPIDEL elections. A President who summoned a meeting, sat with certain stakeholders, and casually disregarded the report of duly elected members of the SPIDEL Election Committee, removed qualified members of SPIDEL, and replaced them with unqualified lawyers. A President who, driven by sentiment and personal interest, acted in clear violation of the NBA Constitution and the RPC.

A President openly accused of declaring support for his preferred aspirant, whose recent conduct has been both unethical and unconstitutional. He knew all this and said nothing because Osigwe, SAN, is his friend, and Professor Chidi Odinkalu is also his friend .

Now he dares to attack Akinboro? What a shame. This is selective activism. I chose to remain silent after the SPIDEL incident, assuming he wished to stay out of NBA matters. And since I could not pursue the matter in court, I blamed no one .

You can imagine my shock to read this from the same Chidi, playing the same pathetic politics he once claimed to avoid. How convenient.”

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