In a significant and unprecedented development for the upcoming Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) elections, Olumide Akpata, the immediate past president of the NBA and current Labour Party governorship candidate for Edo State, has officially endorsed Tobenna Erojikwe for the position of NBA President. This endorsement comes just days before the July 20, 2024, election, potentially swaying a significant portion of the NBA membership.
Akpata, in a comprehensive video message that has now gone viral, emphasised the critical nature of the NBA presidency and its impact on both the legal profession and the nation at large. He stressed the need for a leader who understands the gravity of the position, stating, “The NBA president must be someone who truly understands the gravity of the position—not as a mere title or accolade, but as a responsibility to both the legal profession and the nation itself.”
The former NBA president highlighted Erojikwe’s extensive involvement in his administration, stating, “Tobenna was central to my administration in many ways. As Head of Strategy and Project Implementation, he was involved in the conceptualization of many of the signature policies and programmes of the administration. From the Access to Finance to the Court Monitoring Scheme; from the Judicial Reform Initiatives to the Legal Empowerment Programmes; from the NBA Stabilisation Fund to our trailblazing efforts at improving the remuneration of Legal Practitioners, he was right at the centre of it all.”
Akpata particularly lauded Erojikwe’s transformative work with the NBA Institute of Continuing Legal Education (NBA-ICLE). He described it as “the flagship programme and one of the greatest achievements of my administration and our association,” noting, “In the past three years alone, the NBA-ICLE has trained over 50,000 lawyers, launched 15 specialised certification programmes, and established partnerships with thirteen bodies for knowledge exchange.” This achievement, Akpata suggested, demonstrates Erojikwe’s capacity to revitalise institutions and drive meaningful change within the NBA.
The endorsement also highlighted Erojikwe’s recent experience as a member of the National Judicial Council, positioning him to lead efforts to improve the quality and wellbeing of judicial officers. Akpata noted, “The candidate completely agrees that the NBA must have a say in the process of appointment and discipline of judges, as well as the improvement of judges’ welfare.”
Addressing the upcoming election directly, Akpata stated, “Of the three candidates running for the office of President of the NBA this year, all of whom are very well known to me, I have no hesitation in endorsing Tobenna Erojikwe as the ideal person to lead the NBA at this critical juncture of the Association’s existence. He has been at the forefront of addressing many of our profession’s challenges and demonstrating remarkable doggedness and resilience in his efforts.”
Akpata stressed the importance of electing a president who can “hit the ground running,” given the NBA president’s single, two-year term. He praised Erojikwe’s 42-page manifesto as evidence of his deep understanding of the association’s needs and challenges, stating, “You only need to read the 42-page manifesto of this candidate to know that he knows the programmes that worked and the challenges we faced. He knows what to do to improve the fortunes of the members of the association.”
In his closing remarks, Akpata made a passionate appeal to NBA members: “The NBA needs a President who will continue to build on the progress that we made, who will fight tirelessly for the interests of Nigerian lawyers, and who will elevate our profession to new heights. I trust Tobenna Erojikwe to be such a President. As you cast your votes in the coming days, I urge you to consider the future of our profession and our country and vote Tobenna Erojikwe for NBA President.”
This strong and unprecedented endorsement from a recent past president of the NBA is expected to significantly influence voters in the upcoming election. Akpata’s detailed account of Erojikwe’s contributions and capabilities provides a compelling case for his candidature, potentially consolidating support among NBA members who valued Akpata’s leadership and vision for the association.
As the election approaches, this endorsement adds a new dimension to the race, highlighting the continuity of vision and progress that Erojikwe represents. It remains to be seen how other candidates and their supporters will respond to this high-profile endorsement in the final days before the election.
