The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) will proceed with its national election on Saturday, July 20, 2025, after the State Security Service (SSS) released the managing director of the association's election service provider, E-Election Solutions Limited. The development was confirmed by the NBA National Executive Committee (NEC) after an emergency meeting held on Thursday in Abuja.
The election, which will determine the next president and other national officers of the country's foremost lawyers' body, had been thrown into uncertainty earlier this week when SSS operatives arrested the MD of the technology firm contracted to run the electronic voting system. The detention raised fears that the election might be postponed or disrupted, but the NEC's statement has now cleared the air.
“The NEC, after a thorough review of the situation, affirmed that there is no operational or logistical reason to postpone the election, which is now two days away,” said a communique issued after the meeting. “The MD of E-Election Solutions has been released by the SSS, and the company has confirmed that its systems are ready and tested for the election.”
The SSS has not publicly commented on the reasons for the arrest or the release, but sources within the security agency said the MD was held for questioning over alleged irregularities in the voter registration database. The NBA had earlier protested the detention, calling it an interference in the internal affairs of the association.
Background to the Controversy
The NBA election has been a source of tension for months, with candidates and their supporters trading accusations over voter list manipulation and potential rigging. The association adopted an electronic voting system for the first time in 2020 to ensure transparency and reduce fraud, but the process has not been without hitches.
In the weeks leading up to this year's election, several complaints emerged about missing names on the voter register and the inability of some members to access the voting portal. The NBA's Election Planning Committee (EPC) received over 1,200 formal complaints between June 1 and July 15, according to a source within the committee. Of these, 847 were resolved, but 353 remained unresolved as of Wednesday, July 16. The SSS's arrest of the service provider's MD appeared to be a response to these complaints, but critics saw it as an overreach.
“The SSS has no business meddling in the NBA's internal democracy,” said a senior lawyer who spoke on condition of anonymity. “The association has its own disciplinary mechanisms and can resolve disputes internally. The security agency should focus on its core mandate of protecting national security.”
The arrest occurred on Tuesday, July 15, at the E-Election Solutions office in Ikeja, Lagos. SSS operatives arrived at 10 a.m. and spent three hours searching the premises before taking the MD, identified as Mr. Olusegun Ajayi, into custody. He was held at the SSS detention facility in Garki, Abuja, until his release on Thursday afternoon.
The NBA NEC, led by President Mr. Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, held an emergency meeting at 4 p.m. on Thursday at the NBA House in Abuja. The meeting lasted three hours and included representatives of the three presidential candidates. After the meeting, the NEC issued a statement confirming that the election would go ahead as planned.
The Election Process
The NBA election will take place across all states of the federation, with voting starting at 8 a.m. and ending at 5 p.m. on Saturday. Members will cast their ballots electronically using the E-Election Solutions platform, which has undergone several stress tests in the past week.
Three candidates are vying for the position of NBA president: Chief Adebayo Ogunleye, a senior advocate of Nigeria and former chairman of the NBA's Lagos branch; Mrs. Funmilayo Adekunle, a human rights lawyer and former national treasurer; and Mr. Chinedu Obi, a corporate lawyer from Enugu. The race is widely seen as a contest between the old guard and reformists, with Ogunleye representing the establishment and Adekunle and Obi offering change.
Ogunleye, 58, has practiced law for 32 years and is a partner at Ogunleye & Associates in Lagos. He is backed by several former NBA presidents and senior advocates. Adekunle, 45, is the founder of the Adekunle Legal Centre and has been a vocal critic of the NBA's leadership. Obi, 50, is a managing partner at Obi & Co. in Enugu and has focused his campaign on decentralizing the NBA's activities.
The electronic voting system will be accessible via a dedicated website and a mobile app. Voters must log in using their NBA membership number and a one-time password sent to their registered phone number. The system has been designed to prevent multiple voting and to ensure that each vote is encrypted and anonymous.
The NBA has set up 36 state-level election committees to oversee the process. Each committee is chaired by a retired judge and includes representatives of the candidates. In addition, the NBA has deployed 500 observers from civil society organizations, including the Electoral Institute of Nigeria and the International Republican Institute.
Reactions From Stakeholders
The decision to proceed with the election has been met with mixed reactions. Some lawyers welcomed the clarity, saying a postponement would have been a setback for the association's democratic process. Others expressed concern that the unresolved issues with the voter register could lead to disputes after the results are announced.
“The NBA must ensure that every eligible member can vote without hindrance,” said Dr. Kehinde Bamidele, a lecturer at the University of Lagos and a member of the association. “If there are still problems with the voter list, the election could be challenged in court, which would be a waste of time and resources.”
The NBA NEC has promised to set up a help desk to assist members who encounter difficulties voting on Saturday. The association also said it would publish the final voter register on its website by Friday evening. As of Thursday, the register contained 85,432 names, according to the EPC. However, the NBA has over 100,000 registered members, meaning that about 15,000 members may not be able to vote if their names are missing.
The three candidates have reacted cautiously. Ogunleye's campaign spokesman, Mr. Tunde Ojo, said: “We are relieved that the election will proceed. We trust the NEC and the EPC to ensure a free and fair process.” Adekunle's campaign manager, Ms. Ngozi Eze, said: “We are monitoring the situation closely. We hope that all eligible members will be able to vote.” Obi's campaign issued a statement calling for “maximum transparency” and urging the NEC to address all outstanding complaints before Saturday.
A Standalone Summary
The NBA will hold its national election on Saturday as scheduled, following the release of the detained MD of its election service provider by the SSS. The NEC confirmed that there are no operational or logistical reasons for a postponement, despite earlier concerns over the voter register. The election will proceed electronically, with three candidates contesting for the presidency.
Implications for the Legal Profession
The outcome of the election will have significant implications for the legal profession in Nigeria. The NBA president is a key voice on issues of judicial independence, legal reform, and the rule of law. The election has also become a test case for the use of technology in internal elections, which could influence other professional bodies and even political parties.
If the electronic voting system works smoothly on Saturday, it could boost confidence in digital elections in Nigeria, where manual voting has often been marred by fraud and violence. However, any major glitch could set back the adoption of technology in electoral processes for years.
The SSS has yet to issue a statement on the arrest and release of the MD, but the NBA has said it will seek a formal explanation from the security agency. The association also called on the government to respect the autonomy of professional bodies and avoid actions that could undermine their internal governance.
Legal analysts say the NBA election is being watched closely by other professional associations, such as the Nigerian Medical Association and the Nigerian Society of Engineers, which are considering adopting electronic voting. “If the NBA pulls this off, it will be a game-changer for professional elections in Nigeria,” said Prof. Adeyinka Ogunyemi, a political scientist at Obafemi Awolowo University. “But if it fails, it will reinforce the skepticism about technology in elections.”
What Happens Next
Voting will commence at 8 a.m. on Saturday, and results are expected to be announced within 24 hours of the close of polls. The NBA has deployed observers to all states to monitor the process, and the candidates have signed a peace accord committing to accept the outcome.
For now, the focus is on ensuring that every lawyer who wants to vote can do so. The NEC's decision to go ahead with the election has removed the immediate uncertainty, but the real test will be on Saturday when the polls open.
The NBA has also announced that it will hold a press conference on Friday at 10 a.m. at the NBA House to provide final updates on the election. The conference will be addressed by the NEC chairman, Mr. Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, and the EPC chairman, Mr. Olumide Akpata.
As the legal community holds its breath, one thing is clear: Saturday's election will be a defining moment for the NBA and for the future of democratic governance in Nigeria's professional bodies.