The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has confirmed that its national election will proceed on Saturday as scheduled, following an emergency virtual meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC) and the release of the managing director of its election service provider by the State Security Service (SSS).
Emergency NEC Meeting and Election Readiness
In a statement released via its official X account on Thursday night, the NBA announced that the NEC affirmed there was no operational or logistical reason to postpone the election, now two days away. The Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) assured the NEC that preparations for the election remained on course and “reaffirmed its readiness to conduct a ‘free, fair, transparent and credible’ election on Saturday.”
The NBA did not disclose the names of the service provider’s managing director or his company. It only confirmed that the official had been detained and later released.
SSS Detention Raises Concerns
The reassurance came hours after lawyer and former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chidi Odinkalu, raised concerns that SSS operatives detained the managing director of the NBA’s election service provider. According to online reports, the managing director was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos while travelling to Abuja ahead of the election. Odinkalu alleged that operatives seized the managing director’s laptop, mobile phones, and other electronic devices before taking him into custody. He also claimed the action was intended to disrupt preparations for the NBA election.
NEC Condemns Arrest, Demands Release
The NBA’s NEC condemned the arrest and detention of the managing director, describing the development as “deeply troubling.” The council demanded his immediate and unconditional release, warning that no action should be allowed to undermine the credibility of the election. The association later confirmed that the managing director had been released from custody shortly after the emergency meeting.
The council urged eligible lawyers to remain calm, participate peacefully in Saturday’s election, and continue to uphold the rule of law, democracy, and the independence of the legal profession. It also called on relevant authorities to respect the autonomy of the NBA and refrain from any action capable of interfering with its democratic processes.
Ongoing Controversies Surrounding the Election
The development is the latest controversy surrounding Saturday’s NBA election. In recent weeks, the process has generated disputes over the screening of candidates, the voters’ register, and other aspects of the electoral process. Despite the controversies, the ECNBA has repeatedly insisted that the election will proceed on Saturday, 18 July, as scheduled.
