Fresh concerns emerged today over the conduct of the forthcoming NBA Abuja Branch (Unity Bar) elections as members of the Branch questioned the basis upon which the Electoral Committee compiled a voters list containing only 239 eligible voters out of a membership running into several thousands.
The controversy reportedly intensified when members, particularly young lawyers, sought access to attendance records for Years 1–5 lawyers, which they believed would assist in verifying eligibility and understanding how the voters list was compiled. According to several members present at the Branch Secretariat, requests for access to the register were declined by officials of the Electoral Committee.
One member of the Branch, who spoke anonymously, alleged that the Secretary of the Electoral Committee declined repeated requests to release the register or make it available for members to cross-check their attendance records.
According to the member:
“The Secretary of the Electoral Committee seized the register for Years 1–5. Several young lawyers approached her and asked that she release it, but she flatly refused. They then suggested she at least bring it downstairs so people could cross check their names, but she again refused and said, ‘Never.’
We then went upstairs to engage with her directly. We asked several questions regarding the voters list and how it was compiled, but she could not provide any answers. She maintained that she was not going to release that particular register and eventually handed it over to the NBA Driver Friday.
We subsequently requested access to the register from him as well, but he also refused. The situation then became tense as some members insisted on seeing the records being relied upon for the accreditation process.”
The member further alleged that a physical altercation nearly occurred during the disagreement over access to the register as the Elcom secretary tried to get physical in a bid to protect the said register.
The development comes amid growing concerns among members regarding the publication of a voters list containing only 239 eligible voters and the Committee’s decision to provide a limited window for complaints and verification ahead of the election scheduled for 10 June 2026.
Several members have called on the Electoral Committee to provide greater transparency regarding the criteria used in accrediting voters, disclose the attendance records relied upon in compiling the list, recognize virtual attendance at Branch meetings, and extend the period available for members to challenge omissions from the register.
As of the time of filing this report, the Electoral Committee had not publicly responded to the concerns raised by members regarding the voters list or the requests for access to the attendance records.
With the election only days away, many members have emphasized the need for transparency, inclusiveness, and strict compliance with the NBA Constitution and Uniform Bye-Laws in order to preserve confidence in the electoral process and ensure the credibility of the outcome.
