“Disgraceful” Conduct: Odinkalu Calls Out 2024 NBA Appeal Cttee Chair Sule SAN For Failing To Resign After Congratulating Winner
The recently concluded Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) national officers elections have been marred by controversy and allegations of irregularities. Despite the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA) releasing a post-audit report asserting the integrity of the electoral process, several candidates have raised concerns about the conduct and transparency of the elections.
In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Chidi Odinkalu, a prominent Nigerian lawyer and human rights activist, criticized the Chairman of the election Appeals Committee for congratulating the declared winner. Odinkalu stated, “When the results of #NBADecides2024 were announced last month, the Chairman of the election Appeals Committee of the #ECNBA quickly congratulated the declared winner. By doing so, he compromised the impartiality and integrity of the appeals process. After congratulating the winner, he should have immediately resigned his position to avoid any perception of bias. It is disappointing and disgraceful that he failed to recognize this and didn’t step down voluntarily.”
TheNigerialawyer recalls that the ECNBA’s post-audit report had previously stated that despite concerns raised by candidates regarding alleged anomalies and potential data manipulation, a thorough review of the voting process and system architecture indicated no evidence of fraud. The committee maintained that stringent controls and safeguards were in place to protect the voting process from external or internal threats.
However, Mr. Chukwuka Ikwuazom SAN, a candidate in the elections, has rejected the ECNBA’s post-audit report. Another candidate, Tobenna Erojikwe, also expressed misgivings about the Appeal Committee process in a press release issued on August 13th, 2024. Erojikwe cited extremely short notice for hearings, refusal to accept evidence, and jurisdictional issues with the committee’s composition as reasons for his concerns. He further questioned the ECNBA conducting its own audit after refusing an independent one as required by the constitution.
Meanwhile, the outgoing NBA President Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, OON, SAN, announced the dissolution of all Standing and Ad-Hoc Committees, with the exception of the 2024 Annual General Conference Planning Committee (AGCPC), the Election Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), and the National Officers Election Appeal Committee (NOEAC). These committees will remain standing until they are reconstituted in accordance with the provisions of the NBA Constitution, 2015 (as amended in 2021).
Recall that in a statement dated July 21, 2024, the Chairman of the NBA National Officers Elections Appeal Committee, Usman O. Sule (SAN), congratulated the NBA President-elect, Mazi Afam Josiah Osigwe (SAN). Sule commended the ECNBA and the leadership of the Association for being steadfast in the emergence of the “people’s President.” He described the election as historic, epochal, and “the most freest and fairest NBA General Election.” Sule also praised members of the Bar and the ECNBA Committee for successfully conducting the election, emphasizing that “the Bar is one family.”
