Egbe Amofin O’odua, has called on Yiaga Africa, the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), and other election observation organisations to decline invitations to observe the forthcoming Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) presidential election, arguing that unresolved legal and procedural disputes have cast serious doubt over the credibility of the process.

In an open letter dated July 11 and jointly signed by its Chairman, Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju, SAN, and Secretary, Prince Adetunji Osho, SAN, the forum urged the organisations to independently verify the legal status of the electoral process before agreeing to participate as observers.

The group contended that while election observation remains an important democratic safeguard, it should not be deployed in circumstances where the legitimacy of the electoral process itself is under challenge.

According to the letter, allegations of non-compliance with the NBA Constitution and electoral regulations remain unresolved, and the participation of respected local and international observers could inadvertently confer legitimacy on an election whose legal foundation is still being contested.

Egbe Amofin also questioned the propriety of the invitation allegedly extended to election observers by the NBA President, arguing that such responsibility ordinarily rests with the Electoral Committee rather than the President.

The forum further accused the NBA President of compromising the integrity of the electoral process through what it described as open support for one of the presidential candidates, maintaining that this had undermined confidence in the election’s neutrality. These are allegations made by Egbe Amofin in its letter.

Beyond questions of procedure, the organisation expressed reservations about the planned electronic voting system, arguing that election observers would be unable to independently verify the integrity of an online election merely by being physically present at a monitoring centre.

It noted that meaningful oversight of an electronic election would require access to critical technical infrastructure, including backend systems, audit logs, security architecture and source codes—access that conventional election observers are unlikely to have.

The letter also referred to petitions reportedly filed by two of the three presidential candidates challenging the competence and independence of the information technology service provider engaged for the election. It urged observer organisations to satisfy themselves that any electronic voting platform had undergone an independent security audit capable of inspiring confidence across the legal profession.

Egbe Amofin further cited the intervention of the Attorney-General of the Federation, who, according to the letter, advised that the election be postponed until August, recommended the engagement of a more credible technology provider, proposed the use of the National Identification Number (NIN) for voter authentication, and suggested that pending litigation be resolved after the identified concerns had been addressed.

The forum criticised what it described as the NBA President’s rejection of those recommendations and alleged attacks on the Attorney-General following the issuance of the advisory directions. These are claims contained in the letter and are not independently verified within the document.

Maintaining that election observation should never become “a symbolic exercise” designed to create the appearance of credibility, Egbe Amofin urged Yiaga Africa, TMG and other invited organisations to refrain from participating in the proposed election until all pending legal disputes are resolved, all subsisting court orders are fully complied with, and the electronic voting platform undergoes a transparent and credible independent audit.

The group said its appeal was intended to preserve public confidence in democratic institutions and ensure that respected election observation organisations are not perceived as endorsing a process whose legality and integrity remain the subject of significant controversy.