The Egbe Amofin O’odua, a forum of Yoruba lawyers, has rejected the 2026 national election of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), declaring that it does not recognise the results of the poll or the process through which they were produced.
The group said it could not associate itself with an electoral exercise which it described as fundamentally compromised by what it termed serious procedural and technological shortcomings.
Its position was contained in a communique issued after an Extraordinary General Meeting of the group held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Saturday, August 8, 2026. The communique was signed by the Chairman of the Governing Council, Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju, SAN, and the General Secretary, Prince Adeniyi Adetunji Oso.
Egbe Amofin O’odua said its decision followed a review of the conduct and outcome of the election, complaints raised by presidential candidates and other members of the Bar, as well as the implications of the exercise for the credibility and unity of the NBA.
The group expressed particular concern over what it described as widespread difficulties experienced during the electronic voting process, including problems with voter authentication, access to the voting platform and the receipt of one-time passwords by eligible voters.
It also raised questions about the composition and appointment of the NBA Electoral Committee and the selection and competence of the service providers engaged to conduct the electronic election.
According to the group, concerns were also raised over the failure to deploy National Identification Number-based authentication as an additional safeguard, despite representations allegedly made to candidates that such a mechanism would form part of the electoral security arrangements.
Egbe Amofin further alleged that the voting platform became inaccessible shortly after voting commenced and that a significant number of eligible lawyers were consequently unable to cast their ballots.
The group also pointed to reports that some presidential candidates were themselves unable to vote, as well as concerns surrounding the alleged use of more than one voting platform during the exercise.
It questioned the extension of the voting period beyond the originally announced closing time and alleged changes to the electronic ballot interface following the suspension and subsequent resumption of voting.
The forum acknowledged that some of the complaints would require investigation and verification but argued that the volume and seriousness of the allegations, when considered alongside the reported technical problems and low voter participation, raised substantial questions about the credibility of the election.
Egbe Amofin therefore declared that it rejected both the conduct of the 2026 NBA election and the results said to have emerged from it.
The group said it would not give its institutional endorsement to an electoral outcome which, in its assessment, did not meet the standards of transparency, fairness, credibility and procedural integrity expected of the NBA.
The development marks a continuation of concerns previously expressed by the group ahead of the election. In July, Egbe Amofin O’odua had called for the postponement of the poll and demanded the implementation of electoral reforms, including NIN-linked voter authentication and other measures intended to strengthen the credibility of the voting process.
At the time, the group’s chairman, Olagunju, had also alleged that the NBA leadership failed to honour agreements reached with stakeholders concerning proposed electoral reforms. He maintained that the concerns were not directed at any particular candidate but were aimed at protecting the integrity of the Bar and its electoral institutions.
However, the NBA leadership proceeded with the election, with President Afam Osigwe previously insisting that the poll would hold as scheduled and dismissing allegations of attempts to manipulate the process. He also said the election would be monitored by security officials and foreign observers.
In its latest communique, Egbe Amofin called for a comprehensive review of the NBA’s electoral architecture and advocated reforms designed to prevent similar controversies in future elections.
Among the measures proposed are a transparent and independent process for constituting the electoral committee, safeguards against conflicts of interest, open procurement procedures for election service providers and the engagement of technology companies with verifiable experience in handling elections of comparable scale.
The group also called for stronger voter authentication systems, adequate testing and independent certification of election technology before deployment, timely publication and verification of the voters’ register and the establishment of a clearly defined electoral timetable that cannot be altered arbitrarily.
It further advocated independent mechanisms for reporting electoral incidents and complaints, comprehensive electronic audit trails, meaningful involvement of candidates and stakeholders in testing the voting system and proper preservation of electoral data and other electronic evidence for possible forensic examination.
According to the group, the NBA should never again conduct an election in which the credibility of the electoral process becomes uncertain only after voting has commenced.
Beyond the election controversy, Egbe Amofin announced plans to strengthen its institutional structure by establishing and inaugurating state branches across Nigeria. It said the move was intended to enhance consultation, participation, professional development and the protection of members’ legitimate interests within the NBA.
The group also commended members who, according to it, remained committed to fairness, justice and institutional integrity despite pressure and competing interests during the election period.
It warned that leadership of the NBA should not be treated as a prize to be secured through influence, manipulation or control of electoral machinery, stressing that the association belongs to all its members.
Egbe Amofin said its opposition to the election was not motivated by personal hostility towards any candidate or office holder but by what it described as a broader concern about the future and institutional integrity of the Nigerian Bar Association.
The group also announced plans to establish an annual lecture in honour of Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, in recognition of his contribution to the development of Egbe Amofin O’odua and the legal profession.
The rejection of the 2026 election by the Yoruba lawyers’ forum is expected to add to the debate surrounding the credibility of the NBA’s electoral system and could place further pressure on the association to address the complaints raised by participating candidates and members.
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