JUST IN: NBA APOLOGISES AS CYBERATTACK DELAYS 2026 NATIONAL ELECTIONS
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By ‘Sefiu Ajape
The Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) has apologised to candidates, eligible voters, agents, consultants, and observers over the delay in the commencement of voting for the 2026 NBA National Elections, blaming the disruption on a coordinated cyberattack.
Voting was initially scheduled to begin at 12:00 a.m. WAT on Saturday.
In a statement dated July 18, 2026, and signed by Aham Ejelam, SAN, Chairman of ECNBA 2026, and Ibrahim Aliyu Nassarawa, Secretary, the committee disclosed that its e-voting platform was subjected to a deliberate, coordinated and sustained cyberattack by external actors.
The committee described the incident as a calculated attempt to disrupt, sabotage, and undermine the integrity of the 2026 NBA National Electoral process.
According to the ECNBA, its IT cybersecurity team, working with the Election Voting Service Provider (EVSP), has activated all available security protocols and countermeasures to repel the attack, neutralise the threat, and restore the integrity and availability of the platform.
The committee said voting has not yet commenced and that no votes are being accepted at this time.
It assured members that the voting portal would reopen immediately after the system was secured and restored, urging eligible voters to await further official communication before attempting to access the platform.
The ECNBA also reminded members that the only official voting portal is www.ecnbaovs.org.ng, warning them to disregard any alternative links or platforms, which it said could be part of the ongoing malicious campaign.
It further confirmed that all candidates, agents, and observers remained present at the designated monitoring center and that the electoral process continued under the committee’s full supervision.
While thanking stakeholders for their patience and understanding, the ECNBA reaffirmed its commitment to conducting a free, fair, transparent, and credible election despite what it described as criminal interference.
Meanwhile, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigerian Bar Association had, at its emergency meeting on July 16, 2026, resolved that the 2026 NBA National Officers and General Council of the Bar (GCB) elections should proceed as scheduled on Saturday, July 18, 2026.
The NEC said its decision followed extensive deliberations and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the electoral process proceeds in line with the approved timetable while encouraging all eligible members to participate peacefully and uphold the association’s democratic ideals.
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