PRESS STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE NIGERIAN LAW SOCIETY (NLS), CHIEF MELA AUDU NUNGHE, SAN, ON THE ONGOING NBA NATIONAL OFFICERS’ ELECTION DISPUTE

DATE: July 9, 2026

The Nigerian Law Society (NLS) has followed with keen interest and deep concern the recent developments surrounding the 2026 National Officers’ Election of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). As an association of legal practitioners committed to the advancement of the legal profession in Nigeria, we believe it is incumbent upon us to speak to this moment, not as partisans, but as fellow stakeholders who share a common destiny with our colleagues at the Bar.

We begin by acknowledging the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN, for his intervention in this matter. His decision to convene stakeholders and to painstakingly consider the reports and recommendations arising therefrom reflects the kind of leadership that the legal profession expects from its representative in the Government of the day.

The Honourable Attorney General has demonstrated a commitment to the stability and integrity of the profession that deserves recognition, and we commend his willingness to engage with the difficult issues that have emerged in the lead-up to the NBA elections.

We also recognize the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, a senior lawyer of no small repute and distinction, whose defence of the NBA’s independence under the Legal Practitioners Act and the NBA Constitution is a position that commands respect.

The NBA’s autonomy is a cherished principle, and we understand the instincts that have guided the Association’s response to recent events.

The concerns raised regarding procedural propriety, fair hearing, and constitutional safeguards are not trivial matters, and they have been articulated with the vigour that one would expect from the leadership of Africa’s largest professional legal association.

Yet, precisely because we are all guardians of the same constitutional order, we must find a way through these challenges without compromising the integrity of our profession.

It is no secret that the NBA finds itself at a crossroads. The disputes, disruptions, and confusion surrounding the conduct of its elections are the last thing that the current system needs.

The issues that have come to the fore, allegations of bias, concerns about the integrity of the electoral process, questions about the appointment of service providers, and the role of zoning and micro-zoning are matters that demand honest reflection and collective resolution.

These are not new challenges, and their recurrence suggests that the NBA’s electoral architecture may benefit from the kind of foundational review that the Honourable Attorney General’s counsel envisions.

In this regard, we note that the Honourable Attorney General, in his considered wisdom, has issued certain directives aimed at restoring confidence in the electoral process. While the NBA has characterized these as directives, we view them, in the spirit of reconciliation, as strong, viable, and foundational counsel, guidance that offers a significant opportunity to reshape the NBA and address the recurring issues that have brought its electoral processes under persistent scrutiny.

The recommendations, including the establishment of an Independent Electoral Oversight and Audit Committee, the mandatory use of the National Identification Number (NIN) for voter authentication, and the call for a review of the NBA Constitution to entrench transparent succession procedures, are measures that, if implemented, could herald a new era of credibility and stability for the Association.

The concerns that have been raised by candidates and other stakeholders cannot be wished away; they must be addressed with courage and candour, and the framework proposed by the Honourable Attorney General provides a reasonable basis for doing so.

We dare to suggest that the path forward lies not in the assertion of institutional prerogatives alone, but in the recognition that no institution is above improvement.

The NBA, like all human institutions, can benefit from periodic recalibration. The Honourable Attorney General’s counsel, coming as it does from a fellow Bar man and the representative of the legal profession in the Government of the day, should be received not as an imposition but as an invitation, an invitation to rise above the fray and to embrace reforms that will strengthen the Association for generations to come.

We call upon both sides, the Honourable Attorney General and the President of the NBA to continue to engage in the spirit of mutual respect and constructive dialogue. These are giants of our profession, and it is fitting that giants should find common ground, not in the pursuit of victory, but in the pursuit of a progressive and enduring legacy for the legal profession.

We therefore strongly advise that the elections be postponed to allow all stakeholders settle their differences and agree on the processes to be adopted for free fair transparent and credible elections.

We further urge the NBA leadership to give serious consideration to the counsel offered by the Honourable Attorney General, not as a surrender of autonomy, but as a strategic embrace of reforms that will ultimately serve the best interests of the Association and its members.

At the same time, we urge the Honourable Attorney General to continue to extend the hand of fellowship and to engage the NBA leadership with the patience and understanding that the complexity of the situation demands.

The goal is not to subordinate the NBA to any external control, but to create an environment in which the NBA can flourish as an independent, transparent, and accountable institution.

The Nigerian Law Society, as an emerging professional association of lawyers, has always maintained that our vision is one of coexistence, collaboration, and complementarity with the NBA.

We believe that a diverse and vibrant legal profession, enriched by multiple associations, is better positioned to serve the cause of justice and the rule of law in Nigeria. We are confident that the Honourable Attorney General, as a distinguished member of the Bar and a champion of the rule of law, will continue to ensure that all professional associations are treated fairly and in accordance with the law.

As the NBA navigates this challenging period, the NLS wishes it well. We pray for the progress and rebirth of a much more reinvigorating legal profession, one that rises from the ashes of its challenges to become stronger, more united, and more purposeful.

The disputes of today need not define the profession of tomorrow. With wisdom, humility, and a shared commitment to the highest ideals of our calling, we can and will emerge better.

We remain optimistic that the wisdom of our leaders, both within the NBA and in government, will prevail, and that the legal profession in Nigeria will continue to be a beacon of hope, justice, and the rule of law in Africa and beyond.

Long live the Nigerian Bar Association. Long live the Nigerian Law Society. Long live the Legal Profession in Nigeria. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Chief Mela Audu Nunghe, SAN, Bencher
President, Nigerian Law Society (NLS

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