NBA poll faces fresh scrutiny as Akinboro seeks official intervention

A former presidential candidate in the 2026 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) election, Olumuyiwa Akinboro (SAN), has petitioned the Chairman of the Body of Benchers, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), along with other legal and security agencies over alleged irregularities in the NBA presidential election.

In separate petitions dated July 27, 2026, Akinboro also wrote to the General Council of the Bar, former NBA presidents, NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Department of State Services (DSS), asking them to investigate the election and provide redress.

The senior lawyer alleged that the election was marred by bias, abuse of office and manipulation, which he said affected the credibility of the process.

Akinboro claimed that after the 2024 NBA election, Osigwe, then President-elect, encouraged him to contest the 2026 NBA presidency and later introduced him to former NBA President Augustine Alegeh (SAN).

According to him, Alegeh agreed to support his ambition if he could convince the South-West bloc to accept a micro-zoning arrangement that would see the NBA presidency rotate between the South-West and Mid-West whenever the position was zoned to the Western Zone.

However, Akinboro said he rejected the proposal because he believed it would be wrong for him to push a political arrangement that could appear to favour his own ambition. He alleged that after the talks failed, Alegeh and Osigwe turned against his candidacy.

He further accused the NBA leadership of using the association’s official platforms and resources to support the eventual winner, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okunsanya (SAN).

According to him, during the 2025 NBA Annual General Conference in Enugu, officials distributed campaign materials for Badejo-Okunsanya while denying other candidates the same opportunity. He also claimed he was refused access to the conference’s Friendship Centre for campaign activities and had to rent another venue from the Enugu State Government.

Akinboro also alleged that the association’s “Unbarred Party” was used to promote the eventual winner through campaign billboards and public recognition.

He further claimed that at the NBA National Executive Council meeting in Maiduguri on February 5, 2026, Osigwe openly said he could not remain neutral because he had the right to support a candidate of his choice.

He also alleged that during an NBA-SPIDEL event in April 2026, the NBA President urged lawyers to support a female candidate by telling them to “trust a woman with the leadership of the NBA.”

According to Akinboro, Osigwe also contacted several senior lawyers, including Senior Advocates of Nigeria, asking them to withdraw their support for his candidacy.

He further alleged that the Women’s Forum, the Young Lawyers Forum and several NBA committees were used to campaign for the preferred candidate.

Akinboro said he and another presidential aspirant, Yemi Akangbe, had earlier reported the alleged bias to the NBA Board of Trustees, but the board could not act because it no longer had enough constitutional powers to intervene.

He also questioned the composition of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), claiming its members were appointed by the NBA President instead of the National Executive Council as required by the 2021 NBA Constitution.

According to him, the appointment of the ECNBA Chairman and Secretary to the Body of Benchers after the election raised further concerns about the committee’s independence.

Akinboro also alleged that appointments into the Body of Benchers and other legal regulatory bodies had become political rewards for loyal supporters while opponents were sidelined.

As an example, he cited the removal of J.S. Okutepa (SAN) from the Body of Benchers after the senior lawyer backed his presidential ambition.