The leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Gwagwalada Branch has debunked trending media reports that there is a crisis rocking the branch, saying that “there is presently no crisis whatsoever in the NBA Gwagwalada Branch.”

In a press statement made available to CITY LAWYER, the branch stated that “The Electoral Committee duly constituted for the conduct of the 2026 Branch Elections has continued to carry out its constitutional responsibilities with diligence, caution, neutrality, independence, and in substantial compliance with the provisions of the NBA Constitution, the Uniform Bye-Laws, and established electoral practices governing Branch elections within the Nigerian Bar Association.”

The branch leadership stated that “What is presently playing out is nothing more than a desperate, coordinated, and politically motivated attempt by certain individuals and vested interests who appear determined to hijack the leadership of the Branch at all costs, regardless of constitutional requirements, ethical standards, institutional integrity, and the traditions of the legal profession.”

Saying that there is an ongoing attempt to incite young, the branch leadership also debunked allegation of misfeasance regarding the forthcoming branch election. It stated that “Contrary to the false narrative being pushed in certain quarters, the Electoral Committee did not arbitrarily disenfranchise any qualified voter.”

Continuing, it stated that “It must be emphasized that no individual is constitutionally entitled to be included in the voters’ register merely on account of political affiliation, personal relationships, emotional pressure, media campaigns, or coordinated intimidation tactics. The integrity of the electoral process must be protected at all times.

“The allegations leveled against the Branch Chairman, the Branch Secretary, and the Electoral Committee are therefore false, malicious, politically motivated, and calculated solely to undermine confidence in the electoral process after certain persons apparently realized that the process could no longer be manipulated to their advantage.”

The branch leadership stated that “Members are therefore strongly advised to disregard inflammatory publications, social media propaganda, coordinated misinformation, and politically motivated narratives being circulated by desperate individuals seeking to manufacture unnecessary tension within the Branch.”

Below is the full text of the statement.

OFFICIAL RESPONSE TO MISLEADING PUBLICATIONS REGARDING THE NBA GWAGWALADA BRANCH ELECTORAL PROCESS.

The attention of the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Gwagwalada Branch, has been drawn to a publication circulated by a blog identified as “LegalLinkz” and other coordinated social media narratives alleging that a “major crisis” has rocked the Branch and further alleging manipulation of the voters’ register ahead of the forthcoming 2026 Branch Elections.

Ordinarily, the Branch would not dignify such sensational, inflammatory, and misleading publications with a formal response. However, in view of the false impressions deliberately being created in the minds of members of the Branch, the legal community, and the general public, it has become necessary to place the true facts in their proper constitutional and institutional perspective.

First and foremost, we state categorically and without equivocation that there is presently no crisis whatsoever in the NBA Gwagwalada Branch.

The Electoral Committee duly constituted for the conduct of the 2026 Branch Elections has continued to carry out its constitutional responsibilities with diligence, caution, neutrality, independence, and in substantial compliance with the provisions of the NBA Constitution, the Uniform Bye-Laws, and established electoral practices governing Branch elections within the Nigerian Bar Association.

What is presently playing out is nothing more than a desperate, coordinated, and politically motivated attempt by certain individuals and vested interests who appear determined to hijack the leadership of the Branch at all costs, regardless of constitutional requirements, ethical standards, institutional integrity, and the traditions of the legal profession.

It is unfortunate that some persons who could not manipulate the process to suit their personal and political interests have now resorted to propaganda, blackmail, misinformation, emotional narratives, and media sensationalism in a calculated attempt to discredit both the leadership of the Branch and the Electoral Committee.

Members of the Branch are fully aware that over time, several attempts have been made by desperate political actors to compromise and manipulate the integrity of the electoral process, many of which were directly and indirectly resisted by the leadership of the Branch and the Electoral Committee in order to preserve constitutional order and institutional credibility.

Indeed, it is no secret within the Branch that certain individuals allegedly imported persons into the Branch purely for electoral purposes in an attempt to influence the outcome of the forthcoming elections. It is equally within public knowledge in the Branch that one of the persons now parading himself and his associates as “champions of electoral integrity” personally lobbied officials of the Electoral Committee in a bid to ensure that his name appeared on the voters’ register despite unresolved constitutional concerns regarding eligibility requirements under the NBA Uniform Bye-Laws.

Furthermore, there have been repeated reports and concerns relating to alleged irregularities in attendance documentation at Monthly General Meetings of the Branch. It is on record that non-members and third parties were at various times brought into meetings to write attendance on behalf of absent persons solely for the purpose of manipulating constitutional eligibility requirements ahead of the elections.

Indeed, at one of the recent Monthly General Meetings of the Branch, a non-member who allegedly attempted to write attendance on behalf of another individual was reportedly apprehended and taken away by officers of the Nigeria Police Force for investigation. The matter, we understand, remains under review.

These are serious institutional concerns which responsible leadership cannot ignore merely because some persons have now chosen to weaponize propaganda and media narratives against lawful verification measures.

It is equally disturbing that certain individuals have continued to incite newly called lawyers, particularly members of the recent Call Sets, many of whom are still unfamiliar with the history, operations, traditions, and constitutional structure of the Branch, with the sole objective of using them as political instruments for electoral advantage.

The leadership of the Branch considers such conduct unhealthy, divisive, ethically questionable, and inconsistent with the maturity, discipline, and professionalism expected within the legal profession.

Contrary to the false narrative being pushed in certain quarters, the Electoral Committee did not arbitrarily disenfranchise any qualified voter. The issue of eligibility is being determined strictly in accordance with:

• the NBA Constitution;
• the NBA Uniform Bye-Laws;
• Branch Electoral Guidelines;
• records available to the Branch and ELCOM; and
• constitutional verification processes applicable to all aspirants and voters alike.

It must be emphasized that no individual is constitutionally entitled to be included in the voters’ register merely on account of political affiliation, personal relationships, emotional pressure, media campaigns, or coordinated intimidation tactics. The integrity of the electoral process must be protected at all times.

The allegations leveled against the Branch Chairman, the Branch Secretary, and the Electoral Committee are therefore false, malicious, politically motivated, and calculated solely to undermine confidence in the electoral process after certain persons apparently realized that the process could no longer be manipulated to their advantage.

Curiously, the same political actors now accusing ELCOM of “disenfranchisement” had themselves previously submitted complaints seeking removal of several allegedly ineligible names from the same voters’ register. This contradiction fundamentally exposes the selective and politically convenient nature of the current outrage being orchestrated in the media.

The leadership of the Branch also considers it necessary to state that the current attempts to create panic and institutional distrust are deeply unfortunate, especially considering the maturity and restraint exhibited by responsible stakeholders within the Branch despite existing disagreements on certain electoral decisions.

Rather than resort to inflammatory media propaganda or destabilizing litigation, responsible stakeholders have continued to pursue lawful campaigns peacefully and responsibly in the overriding interest of unity, stability, and institutional harmony within NBA Gwagwalada Branch.

The NBA Gwagwalada Branch remains firmly committed to transparency, due process, fairness, constitutionalism, and credible elections. The leadership of the Branch will continue to support all lawful and constitutional efforts aimed at protecting the sanctity, credibility, and integrity of the electoral process.

Members are therefore strongly advised to disregard inflammatory publications, social media propaganda, coordinated misinformation, and politically motivated narratives being circulated by desperate individuals seeking to manufacture unnecessary tension within the Branch.

We urge all members of the Branch to remain calm, law-abiding, peaceful, and committed to the unity, dignity, peace, and institutional integrity of the Nigerian Bar Association, Gwagwalada Branch.

Signed:

Clever N. Owhor, Esq.
Chairman,
Nigerian Bar Association,
Gwagwalada Branch.

John Oluwasina Adewakun, Esq.
Secretary,
Nigerian Bar Association,
Gwagwalada Branch.

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