NBA 2024 DECIDES: Mazi Afam Josiah Osigwe, SAN Takes Early Lead In NBA Presidential Race As Voting Continues

The election that will produce the 32nd President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is currently underway, with voting having commenced at 12am on Saturday and set to conclude at 11:59pm. At the time of filing this report, Mazi Afam Josiah Osigwe, SAN, is leading the race for the presidency.

According to the notice released by the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) on July 15, a total of 72,071 members are qualified and eligible to vote having paid their Bar Practicing Fees within the regulated period of January 1 to March 31, 2024.

As of Saturday, July 20, 2024, at 06:50am, a total of 12,323 votes had been tallied, with 37 abstentions. Mazi Afam Josiah Osigwe, SAN, has garnered 5,705 votes, followed by Mr Tobenna Chigbo Erojikwe with 3,423 votes and Chukwuka Nwabueze Ikwuazom, SAN, with 3,195 votes.

In the race for other key positions, Sabastine Anyia is leading for the position of 1st Vice-President with 3,355 votes, while Mrs Bolatumi Olasunbo Animashaun is ahead in the contest for 2nd Vice-President with 7,553 votes. Mrs Zainab Aminu Garba is currently leading for the position of 3rd Vice-President with 7,094 votes.

Dr Mobolaji Idris Ojibara is in the lead for the position of General Secretary with 7,875 votes, and Henry Barnabas Ehi is ahead in the race for Assistant General Secretary with 8,942 votes. Mrs Blessing Imo Udofa-Poromon is currently leading for the position of Treasurer with 5,313 votes.

In the contest for Welfare Secretary, Nyada Auta is in the lead with 5,936 votes. Mrs Bridget Ijeoma Edokwe is ahead in the race for Publicity Secretary with 5,912 votes, while Miss Ebiere Emmanuella Ekpese is leading for the position of Assistant Publicity Secretary with 8,127 votes.

For the NBA Representatives to the General Council of the Bar (Eastern Zone), Mr Augustine Osondu Ike, Mr Daniel Ka-Ayii Kip, Mr Eric Chigozie Ibe, Mr Michael Chukwurah Onuorah, and Mr Obi Lawrence Anizoba are currently tied with 7,866 votes each. Mr Tijjani Magaji is leading for the NBA Representative to the General Council of the Bar (Northern Zone) with 9,469 votes.

In the Western Zone, Mr Israel Solomon Lagbamue, Mr Kingsley Asagba, Mr Olukunle Ogheneovo Edun, Mr Precious Ndidi Nwadimuyah, and Mr Sulayman Adamu Dawud are currently tied for the positions of NBA Representatives to the General Council of the Bar, each with 7,996 votes.

Meanwhile, a statistics report by Courtroom Mail on the 2024 NBA election has revealed the demographic breakdown of the voting power. According to the report, the top voting blocs are NBA Lagos with 13,446 votes, NBA Abuja with 11,448 votes, NBA Ikeja with 5,663 votes, NBA Port Harcourt with 3,945 votes, and NBA Ibadan with 2,063 votes.

The tier 2 voting blocs include NBA Benin with 1,830 votes, NBA Owerri with 1,441 votes, NBA Enugu with 1,370 votes, NBA Jos with 1,115 votes, NBA Ilorin with 1,048 votes, NBA Kano with 1,045 votes, and NBA Uyo with 1,024 votes.

It is worth noting that despite the significant time remaining before the voting concludes, the number of votes cast so far is relatively low compared to the 72,071 members who are accredited to vote. This suggests that a large portion of the eligible voters are yet to exercise their voting rights.