Candidates react to NBA election result

Two candidates in the just concluded Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) election, Prof Ernest Ojukwu (SAN) and Arthur Obi-Okafor (SAN) have both reacted to the outcome of the election. Paul Usoro (SAN) polled 4, 509 votes against his closest rival, Okafor, who got 4, 423 votes, while Prof. Ojukwu scored 3,313 votes. In his concession statement, […]

Two candidates in the just concluded Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) election, Prof Ernest Ojukwu (SAN) and Arthur Obi-Okafor (SAN) have both reacted to the outcome of the election.

Paul Usoro (SAN) polled 4, 509 votes against his closest rival, Okafor, who got 4, 423 votes, while Prof. Ojukwu scored 3,313 votes.

In his concession statement, Prof Ojukwu alleged that the election was filled with “corruption, massive vote buying, rigging and skewed process.”

He said the irregularities demanded that the outcome be challenged but maintained that he would not challenge it due to his belief in a regenerated Bar.

Thanking his supporters, he said: “With the kind of passion you have and expressed in various actions recently to create a Bar of our dream, our destiny is still in our hands.”

“Keep moving on the task of Setting-A-New-Bar. The Bar is yours. It is your right to have the kind of Bar you desire. It is also your responsibility,” he added.

Also, in his reaction Okafor thanked his supporters for believing in his vision of an All-Inclusive Bar.

“Throughout the electoral process, you exhibited a high level of discipline, decency, consistency, integrity; and were neither swayed by money or other sentiments,” he said.

“As we close this chapter today, I can without any iota of doubt, beat my chest with pride and boast that I worked with the best set of lawyers in actualizing our desire to lead our noble association and return it back to the path of honour and integrity.”