NBA President, Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, FCIArb., has announced plans for a comprehensive review of the Association’s electoral system, declaring that universal suffrage has come to stay.
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, FCIArb., has expressed her administration’s commitment to strengthening the integrity, credibility and transparency of the Association’s electoral process.
Speaking during her inaugural ceremony in Port Harcourt, the NBA President acknowledged the controversy and technological difficulties that characterised the recently concluded national officers’ election, including complaints that some eligible members were unable to exercise their franchise.
She, however, firmly rejected allegations that the outcome of the election was manipulated or fraudulently predetermined, maintaining that she campaigned extensively across the country and earned the mandate that brought her into office.
“I am conscious of the fact that the election which brought us here generated controversy, and that technological difficulties prevented a number of eligible members from exercising their franchise.
“I do not accept the allegation that the outcome was manipulated or fraudulently predetermined. I worked hard, took my message to lawyers across the country and received the mandate that has brought me before you today.”
Badejo-Okusanya noted that confidence in an electoral process is strengthened when legitimate concerns are examined openly rather than dismissed.
According to her, the responsibility of the Bar is not to continue trading accusations over a contest that has ended, but to work towards ensuring that future NBA elections command even greater confidence among members.
Ajibade to Chair Electoral Reform Committee
The President announced that she would establish an Electoral Reform Committee, to be chaired by Dr. Babatunde Ajibade, SAN, to undertake a comprehensive examination of the NBA’s electoral architecture.
The committee will consult widely, receive memoranda and recommend constitutional, institutional and technological reforms needed to improve the existing electoral system.
She said the reforms would be aimed at ensuring that future NBA elections remain transparent, accessible, secure, auditable and worthy of the Nigerian Bar Association.
“Let me make something very clear. Universal suffrage has come to stay. Our task is to make it work better,” the President declared.
Badejo-Okusanya invited her co-contestants, Egbe Amofin O’odua, regional Bar fora, NBA branches, past leaders, young and senior lawyers, as well as other concerned members, to participate constructively in the reform process.
“We may disagree about the election that has passed, but let us work together to build more confidence in the elections that lie ahead,” she said.
Electoral reform was among the immediate priorities outlined by the President in her inaugural address, titled “From the Call to the Cause,” delivered after she assumed office as the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association.
President Condemns Campaign Abuse
The NBA President also condemned the increasingly distasteful practice of campaign abuse, personal attacks and insulting social media posts against lawyers.
She called on her co-contestants, members of the Association and future candidates for NBA offices to lend their voices to the condemnation of abusive campaign conduct.
According to her, such behaviour has no place in a noble profession and will attract little tolerance under her administration.
“We will deal swiftly and decisively with any lawyer who makes abusive and insulting posts against any colleague, senior or junior.”
The President warned that lawyers who engage in abusive conduct against colleagues would be reported to the appropriate disciplinary bodies, adding that such actions would be made public.
She observed that the use of insulting and degrading language by lawyers in the name of Bar politics brings the legal profession into disrepute before members of the public.
Badejo-Okusanya consequently urged lawyers to embrace civility, professional decorum and mutual respect in their political engagements, irrespective of differences in candidates or opinions.
The statement was issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, Dr. Prince I. Azubuike.
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