New kid on the block, Dr. Chinedu Maduba has emerged as the new Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Port Harcourt Branch.

The charismatic Bar Leader polled 369 votes to beat his closest challenger and first runner-up, Mr. John Owubokiri, who polled 267 votes.

Another chairmanship candidate, Mr. Anthony Ezenwoko, polled 110 votes to place third while Mr. Jonas Iniayemana, adjudged as an ‘independent candidate,’ garnered a paltry 31 votes to place a distant fourth position.

Maduba’s victory is considered a huge upset, given that he emerged from the break-away rump of the influential Progressives Group which formed the nascent “Proactive Group.”

While Owubokiri was sponsored by the highly influential Integrity Group, Ezenwoko was backed by the rival Progressives Group.

There are strong indications that the electorate may have jettisoned the inroad of ethnic politics into the election, given that the Integrity Group was alleged to have fielded Owubokiri in a bid to stop the emergence of Maduba and Ezenwoko who are Igbo and deemed as ‘non-indigenes.’ Maduba is however not the first Igbo or non-indigene to be elected as chairman of the influential branch. He was alleged to have been backed by NBA HOUSE.

It is recalled that the Progressives sensationally upstaged the behemoth Integrity Group in 2024 with the election of Mrs. Cordelia Eke, the pioneer female chairman of the branch. The Integrity Group had held the branch elections by the jugular for an unbroken 10 years, producing the chairman and secretary of the branch back-to-back.

Several Bar Leaders who spoke to CITY LAWYER adjudged the election as free, fair and credible. CITY LAWYER gathered that Maduba’s victory was buoyed by a rapacious group of young lawyers who were sucked in by his charismatic and avant-garde campaign and resolved to shove of the ‘old guards.’ He is also said to have a deep pocket which helped to oil his aggressive and longstanding campaign.

Speaking on the election, the Director-General of the Integrity Campaign Organisation, Mr. Reginald Ugwuadu, told CITY LAWYER that “We are all winners and I wish the leadership all the very best in piloting the affairs of our great Branch.”

Continuing, he said: “I commend the ELECO led by Victor Omubo Frank Briggs, Esq. for the transparency brought into the process and eventually the election. This indeed is one election to remember for a long time.” Waxing philosophical, he said: “There is a time and season for everything under the sun.”

Two chairmanship candidates also told CITY LAWYER that there is nothing so far to impugn the election.

According to Ezenwoko, “The elections have come and gone. I congratulate the newly elected EXCO of the branch and pray for a better future for our branch.” Asked whether there is any allegation of rigging, he said: “I am unable to say so. I have no evidence of rigging so far.”

In an interview with CITY LAWYER, another chairmanship candidate, Mr. Jonas Iniayemana, said: “Whilst there are no perfect elections, the members of our Branch yesterday, the 5th day of August, 2026 expressed their democratic will in a peaceful and fairly conducted election which I have accepted in good faith and personally congratulated our newly elected Chairman, Owelle Chinedu Maduba Ph.d and other Executive Committee Members and wished them wisdom, peace and good success in their service to our Branch.

“I am glad that our Branch has peacefully navigated this path of democratic succession, and I hope for the best for our Branch.”

Pioneer female chairman of the branch who also doubles as the immediate past branch chairman, Mrs. cordelia uwuma Eke, described the election as “hard-earned in a free, fair, and keenly contested election.”

In a congratulatory message made available to CITY LAWYER, the Bar Leader stated that Maduba’s victory was “a clear endorsement of your capacity, vision, and commitment to the ideals of our noble Branch.”

Former NBA Assistant General Secretary, Mr. Okey Ohagba, who is also a chieftain of the Progressives Group, rated the election as “Free, fair and credible.”

The Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Mr. Idris Abayomi Shehu, stated that the committee had “successfully conducted the branch elections and completed a seamless transition of power,” adding that “The newly elected executive officers were sworn in immediately after the results were declared.”

In a statement made available to CITY LAWYER, he wrote: “On behalf of my committee, I extend our profound gratitude to the President of the NBA for the trust you placed in us and for the privilege to serve the Bar.”

CITY LAWYER recalls that controversies had trailed the build-up to the election. This led NBA President, Mr. Afam Osigwe SAN to storm Port Harcourt to resolve the crisis. This led to the appointment of an Electoral Committee led by Mr. Victor Omubo Frank Briggs, with oversight role given to NBA First Vice President, Mr. Sabastine Anyia. Shehu stepped aside to focus solely on administration of branch affairs.

Others elected during the election held on Wednesday, 5th August, 2026 include:

VICE CHAIRMAN: Flora Festus-Ifode
SECRETARY: Mrs. Rachael Princewill
ASSISTANT SECRETARY: Dimkpa Geoffrey Lemuel
TREASURER: Ogechi Ihekwoaba-Agbai
FINANCIAL SECRETARY: Abaraonye Valentina Chikordi
WELFARE SECRETARY: Confidence Nkiruka Nwoka
SOCIAL SECRETARY: Ikpe-Orluorlu Chigozie
PUBLICITY SECRETARY: Ohaka Ihunwo
PROVOST: Azubuike Anwuri Wejinya

Below is the full text of the results from the eagerly watched poll.

CHAIRMAN

1. Anthony Ezenwoko – 110
2. Dr. Chinedu Maduba – 369✅
3. John Owubokiri – 267
4. Jonas O. – 31

VICE CHAIRMAN

1. Flora A. Festus – 275✅
2. Fortune Ada Ndah – 255
3. Rita Okitie – 242

SECRETARY

1. FELIX IKPO – 158 Votes.
2. MR. OHAKA GILBERT – 201 votes.
3. MRS. RACHAEL PRINCEWILL – 417 votes✅

WELFARE SECRETARY

1. Confidence Nkiruka Nwoka – 315✅
2. Ogechi Wodike-Agbai – 157
3. Urang Atawo – 301

FINANCIAL SECRETARY

1. Abaraonye Valentina Chikordi – 481✅
2. David Sunday Ameh – 294
   ▪︎ One void vote

TREASURER

1. Ibikuruma Bob-Manuel – 208
2. Ogechi Ihekwoaba-Agbai – 293✅
3. Wonodi O. Nkiruka – 276

PUBLICITY SECRETARY

1. Joseph Asawobelem – 370
2. Ohaka Ihunwo – 393✅
   ▪︎ Eight void votes

SOCIAL SECRETARY

1. Ikpe-Orluorlu Chigozie 434✅
2. Ledua Zor-Akekue – 339
   ▪︎ Three void votes

PROVOST

1. Dubon prince – 245
2. Godsent Elenwo – 242
3. Azubuike Anwuri – 291✅

• one void vote

ASSISTANT SECRETARY:

1. Dimkpa Geoffrey Lemuel – 412✅
2. Onuh Augusta Chioma – 358

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