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The electoral committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has declared the association’s former General Secretary, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), as the president-elect.
Chairman, Oluseun Abimbola (SAN), said Osigwe secured 50.52 per cent of the votes cast, polling 20,435.
Chairman of the NBA-Institute of Continuing Legal Education Governing Council, Tobenna Erojikwe, scored 10,998 votes (27.19 per cent).
Former NBA Lagos Branch Chairman, Chukwuka Ikwuazom (SAN), finished third in the election with 9,018 votes, representing 22.29 percent of the total. The online voting process started at midnight on Saturday and concluded at 11:59 p.m.
Announcing the results at NBA House in Abuja, Abimbola revealed that 40,451 lawyers participated in the election. Despite initially participating, Ikwuazom withdrew midway, citing concerns over potential manipulation, which he felt consistently kept him in third place.
Ikwuazom stated, “As a candidate committed to upholding transparency and the rule of law, I cannot in good conscience continue to participate in a compromised electoral process.”
Abimbola responded, “In executing our mandate, we made tough decisions pursuant to our constitution. We adopted measures and preemptive steps to insulate the electoral process from undue interruptions and interference. Our final report will address these issues to guide future elections.”
Addressing reports of Ikwuazom’s withdrawal, Abimbola noted, “Please be informed that no official notice or letter about this was served on the ECNBA. Like everyone else, we read of the purported withdrawal on social media, which was not addressed to us. We, therefore, discountenanced it along with posted rebuttals of the withdrawal.”
The Osigwe-led executive will succeed Yakubu Maikyau (SAN) and his team, with this election marking the turn of the Southeast to produce the president. Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, and Speaker Somtochukwu Udeze praised Osigwe’s election as the 32nd NBA president. Osigwe, a former Chairman of the NBA Abuja Branch (Unity Bar), hails from Anambra.
Soludo expressed confidence in Osigwe’s leadership, stating, “We look forward to a distinct and excellent leadership for the Nigerian Bar under your watch.”
Speaker Udeze shared his excitement over Osigwe’s victory, saying, “With your dedication and the proud legacy of Anambra behind you, I am sure you will inspire a new era of excellence in our legal system.”