Lawyer threatens court action over NBA’s e-voting guidelines

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Electoral Committee has been accused of inserting clauses in the e-voting guidelines said to be inconsistent with the association’s Constitution. This was contained in a petition to the committee by a former Publicity Secretary of the Zaria branch of the association, Saidu Abubakar who further alleged that the outgoing NBA […]

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Electoral Committee has been accused of inserting clauses in the e-voting guidelines said to be inconsistent with the association’s Constitution.

This was contained in a petition to the committee by a former Publicity Secretary of the Zaria branch of the association, Saidu Abubakar who further alleged that the outgoing NBA leadership is working to use the Electoral Committee to disqualify candidates perceived to be popular and not in good books of the leadership.

Abubakar said if the committee refuses to remove the said requirements, it will impinge on the integrity of the NBA electoral process, he would be instituting a legal proceeding.

He said the petition was prompted by “a worrisome much publicized notice from the Election Committee of NBA (ECNBA) directing all lawyers to furnish their branch with copies of the current annual practicing fee and branch dues teller/receipts, email account and phone numbers. Branches are mandatorily required to do this on or before May 11, 2018.

“My worry was further heightened by part of the notice which stated that these details are necessary to enable lawyers vote in the NBA election. I have carefully searched through the NBA Constitution for the legal basis for the requirement but could not find one,” he said.

The petitioner further pointed out that Paragraph 2.3(d) of 2nd Schedule of NBA Constitution, 2015 does not empower ECNBA to issue such a guideline.