Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former NBA- SPIDEL Chairman, Dr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani, has joined the growing debate surrounding the forthcoming 2026 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) National Elections, urging stakeholders to critically examine concerns raised by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF)-led Committee established to address the lingering issues affecting the Association.
Speaking during the Quarterly Meeting of the Eastern Bar Forum (EBF) held in Owerri over the weekend, Dr. Ubani who was Chairman of the NBA, Ikeja Branch, an ex-2nd Vice President of NBA noted that while the Attorney-General and the Committee may not possess any statutory authority to halt or postpone the NBA elections, the observations and recommendations contained in the Committee’s advisory deserve serious consideration by members of the Bar.
According to him, the issues highlighted by the Committee go to the heart of the integrity and credibility of the NBA’s electoral process and should not be dismissed merely because the Committee lacks the legal power to interfere with the conduct of the election.
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Dr. Ubani observed that the NBA has, over the years, struggled with persistent controversies arising from its electoral processes. He recalled that virtually every national election conducted by the Association since 2018 has generated disputes and litigation, creating unnecessary divisions within the legal profession.
“In one instance,” he noted, “the controversies surrounding the conduct of NBA elections even culminated in criminal prosecutions involving some members of staff of the NBA Secretariat, although the affected persons were eventually discharged and acquitted.”
The learned Silk expressed concern that questions regarding the fairness, transparency and credibility of the Association’s online voting system have continued to fuel distrust among many members. According to him, widespread doubts remain about the integrity of the electoral platform and the inability of stakeholders to independently verify the voting process.
While acknowledging that the 2026 NBA Elections may ultimately proceed as scheduled, Dr. Ubani emphasized that the Association must not ignore the recurring concerns that have repeatedly undermined confidence in its electoral outcomes.
He stressed the need for greater transparency in the administration of the elections, including enhanced accessibility to the backend architecture of the voting platform, independent verification mechanisms, and other safeguards capable of assuring members that the process is free, fair, credible and auditable.
“The critical issues of transparency, credibility and accountability must be addressed if the NBA is to avoid another cycle of post-election disputes and litigation,” he stated. “The objective should not merely be to conduct an election but to conduct one whose outcome commands widespread acceptance and confidence among members.”
Dr. Ubani further warned against what he described as a culture of silence among stakeholders on matters affecting the institutional health of the Association.
Following his intervention at the EBF meeting, he disclosed that numerous lawyers reached out to him through calls and messages, commending his willingness to openly address concerns that many members privately share but are often reluctant to publicly express.
According to him, the absence of open criticism should not be mistaken for consensus or satisfaction.
“Many people assume that because there is little public opposition, everything is normal. That assumption can be dangerous. Sometimes silence is not a sign of peace; it is merely the silence of the graveyard,” he remarked.
Dr. Ubani therefore called on NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe SAN, NBA leaders, electoral officials, candidates and stakeholders to seize the opportunity presented by the ongoing debate to undertake meaningful reforms that will strengthen confidence in the Association’s democratic processes and preserve its institutional integrity.
He maintained that a credible electoral system as recommended by his Committee which he heads(NBA Electoral Reform Committee) which has been submitted to the outgoing President before now, remains indispensable to the NBA’s standing as the foremost integrity-driven professional association of lawyers in Nigeria and urged the leadership of the Bar at every point to prioritize transparency, accountability and inclusiveness in the conduct of every election including the forthcoming one.
“A word is enough for the wise!”, he concluded.
