KEEP VOTING, POLLS CLOSE SUNDAY MORNING — NBA TELLS MEMBERS
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By ‘Sefiu Ajape
The Nigerian Bar Association has urged eligible lawyers across the country to participate in its ongoing 2026 national election, reminding members that voting will remain open until 7:35 a.m. on Sunday, July 19.
In a statement posted on its official X handle on Saturday, the association said the exercise, which commenced at 7:35 a.m. on Saturday, would run for 24 hours.
“Voting in the 2026 Nigerian Bar Association National Elections commenced at 7:35 a.m. today, Saturday, 18 July 2026, and will remain open until 7:35 a.m. tomorrow, Sunday, 19 July 2026,” the statement read.
The NBA urged eligible members not to wait until the closing hours before casting their ballots.
“Every eligible lawyer has the opportunity to shape the future of our association. Don’t wait until the last minute. Cast your vote today and make your voice count.
“Your vote matters. Your participation matters. The future of the Bar is in your hands. Vote before the polls close at 7:35 a.m. tomorrow,” the association said.
The reminder comes as the presidential contest remains closely fought.
Results displayed on the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association portal as of 7:30 p.m. on Saturday showed Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, maintaining her lead in the race to become the NBA’s first elected female president.
Badejo-Okusanya had polled 10,554 votes, representing 46.16 per cent of the votes counted.
Her closest challenger, Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe (SAN), had secured 7,020 votes, while Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro (SAN) polled 5,289 votes.
Meanwhile, Akangbe alleged that several lawyers, including himself, had encountered difficulties casting their votes.
In a statement posted on X, he said, “Throughout the ongoing NBA elections, I have received reports from lawyers across the country who say they have been unable to cast their votes due to challenges with the voting process. Regrettably, I have also been unable to cast my own vote despite repeated attempts.”
He also alleged that the voting platform permitted multiple voting.
“We have records showing that the system allows people to vote twice, when it should be one member one vote,” he claimed.
Despite the concerns, Akangbe urged lawyers to continue participating in the process.
“Continue trying to exercise your right to vote for as long as the voting window remains open. Leadership is tested most in difficult moments. Let us remain peaceful, resolute, and committed to protecting the credibility of our Association,” he said.
Earlier, NBA President Afam Osigwe (SAN) dismissed allegations of interference in the election, maintaining that the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association operates independently and that he had no role in influencing the outcome.
The election was originally scheduled to commence at 12:00 a.m. on Saturday but was delayed after the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association said its electoral platform came under a cyberattack.
Voting eventually commenced at 7:35 a.m., with the Electoral Committee extending the exercise for 24 hours to ensure eligible lawyers had sufficient time to cast their ballots.
The delay sparked criticism from Akangbe, who called for the immediate suspension of the election, arguing that the technical challenges raised concerns about the integrity of the process and that the issues should be fully resolved before voting continued.
However, the Electoral Committee proceeded with the election after announcing that the platform had been restored, while the extension of the voting period was intended to compensate for the delayed commencement of the exercise.
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