ANXIETY, AS NBA NATIONAL ELECTIONS APPEAL C’TEE KEEPS MUM OVER APPEAL

There is a major concern with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) appeal process for the forthcoming National Officers Elections as the fate of some disqualified aspirants hang in the balance.

At least one disqualified aspirant told CITY LAWYER that the committee has failed to deliver a verdict on an appeal submitted to the National Officers Election Appeals Committee (NOEAC) beyond the deadline set by the NBA Constitution.

The situation becomes more worrisome when it is realized that the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA) recently engaged candidates who have been cleared for the elections, even as some of the disqualified aspirants are still awaiting decisions on their appeals from the Appeals Committee.

Article 1 of Part VIII of Second Schedule to the NBA Constitution 2015 (as amended in 2025). provides that “Any aspirant who is disqualified by the ECNBA in respect of his nomination or candidature may within seven (7) days of the communication of the decision appeal to the National Officers Election Appeals Committee.”

Validating this position in a disqualification letter seen by CITY LAWYER, the ECNBA wrote: “You have the right to appeal this decision to the National Officers Election Appeals Committee within seven (7) days of the receipt of this letter, in accordance with Part VIII of the Second Schedule of the NBA Constitution 2015 (as amended in 2025). Your appeal, if any, should be addressed to: The Chairman, National Officers Election Appeals Committee, c/o ECNBA Secretariat, NBA House, 24 Oro-Ago Street, Garki, Abuja.”

There are concerns that the appeals process does not have sufficient arms-length framework between the appellants and the ECNBA, an apparent respondent in the appeals. This is moreso as the appeals are to be routed through the electoral umpire’s secretariat.

Crucially, Article 4 of Part VIII of Second Schedule to the NBA Constitution 2015 (as amended in 2025) provides that “The decision of the National Officers Election Appeals Committee shall be communicated to both the ECNBA and the aspirant immediately after the decision has been rendered but not later than fourteen (14) days from the date of the receipt of the appeal.”

CITY LAWYER could not independently confirm at press time whether the committee has issued decisions on some appeals.

There are indications that the NBA did not issue a public notice on the membership of the National Officers Election Appeals Committee. CITY LAWYER however gathered that the committee is chaired by Mr. Adizua Okoroafor SAN. He was in November 2024 appointed by NBA President Afam Osigwe SAN as a member of the Justice Sector Reform Committee.

It remains to be seen when the Appeals Committee will issue its decisions and how aspirants with successful appeals would be integrated into the ongoing electoral process by the ECNBA.

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