The Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has declared the association’s former General Secretary, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), as the president-elect.
Chairman, Oluseun Abimbola (SAN), said Osigwe secured 50.52 per cent of the votes cast, polling 20,435.
Chairman of the NBA-Institute of Continuing Legal Education Governing Council, Tobenna Erojikwe, scored 10,998 votes (27.19 per cent).
Former NBA Lagos Branch Chairman, Chukwuka Ikwuazom (SAN), came third, with 9,018 votes (22.29 per cent).
The online voting began at midnight on Saturday and ended at 11.59 pm.
Announcing the results at NBA House in Abuja yesterday, Abimbola said 40,451 lawyers voted.
Sabastine Anyia was elected first vice president with 12,114 votes (33.14 per cent).
Mrs Bolatumi Animashaun was elected second vice president with 26,534 votes (70.47 per cent).
Mrs Zainab Garba scored 23,550 votes (62.89 per cent) to emerge third vice president.
Dr Mobolaji Ojibara was elected General Secretary with 25,713 votes (68.67).
He defeated Abdulwasiu Alfa, who polled 11,730 votes.
Publisher of barristerng.com, Mrs Bridget Edokwe, was elected National Publicity Secretary with 19,542 votes (51.16 per cent).
Midway through the election, Ikwuazom withdrew.
He said despite “overwhelming support” from lawyers, it appeared as if the system was manipulated towards a predetermined outcome, consistently placing him in third.
“As a candidate committed to upholding transparency and the rule of law, I cannot in good conscience continue to participate in a compromised electoral process,” he said.
However, the electoral committee dismissed his claims.
Abimbola said: “In executing our mandate, we made tough decisions pursuant to our constitution.
We adopted measures and preemptive steps to insulate the electoral process and system from undue interruptions and interference, whether by default or design.
Our final report will capture these to guide our future electoral process.
“I should comment on the social media report of a candidate’s purported withdrawal during the elections.
“Please be informed that no notice or letter about this was served on ECNBA.
Like everyone else, we read of the purported withdrawal on social media, and it was not addressed to us.
“We, therefore, discountenanced it along with posted rebuttals of the withdrawal.”
The Osigwe-led executive will take over from Yakubu Maikyau (SAN) and his team.
It was the turn of the Southeast to produce the president.
Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, and the Speaker, Somtochukwu Udeze, hailed Osigwe’s election as the 32nd NBA president.
Osigwe, who hails from Anambra, was also a former Chairman of the NBA Abuja Branch (Unity Bar).
Soludo expressed confidence that the SAN’s leadership would positively disrupt legal practice and herald a new era of excellence.
“We look forward to a distinct and excellent leadership for the Nigerian Bar under your watch,” he said.
The Speaker said he was excited by Osigwe’s victory and was hopeful that his leadership would bring positive changes to the Bar.
“With your dedication and the proud legacy of Anambra behind you, I am sure you will inspire a new era of excellence in our legal system,” Udeze said.
