Victor Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo, Esq., a lawyer from Imo State, has filed a suit against the Registered Trustees of the NBA and the NBA Elections Committee (ECNBA) at the High Court of Imo State, Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Judicial Division.
Filed by Originating Summons, the lawsuit seeks judicial clarification and enforcement of the NBA Constitution, 2021 (as amended), focusing on the rotational zoning of national offices within the Association.
Victor Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo, Esq. alleges that the NBA and ECNBA have failed to uphold constitutional provisions on micro-zoning, which require equitable rotation of key positions — including President, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Vice Presidents, and General Secretary — among all states within each geographical zone: Eastern, Western, and Northern Nigeria.
Court documents reveal concerns that certain states have disproportionately controlled these offices. Notably, Anambra State in the Eastern Zone has produced five NBA Presidents, including the current President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN.
The suit asks the court to determine whether the NBA and ECNBA can ignore the constitution’s zoning rules and whether candidates from states that have already held certain offices are eligible to run again before other states have had their turn.
Victor Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo, Esq. is seeking:
* A declaration that all national office elections must comply strictly with the NBA Constitution.
* A declaration disqualifying candidates from states that have already produced certain officeholders within the same zone until all states have rotated through.
* A perpetual injunction barring the NBA and ECNBA from clearing candidates in violation of zoning rules.
* An order enforcing strict adherence to micro-zoning in all future NBA elections.
The suit highlights ongoing inequalities, especially in the Eastern Zone, where states such as Imo, Bayelsa, and Cross River have yet to produce an NBA President or General Secretary. The Plaintiff argues that Anambra’s dominance undermines the principle of inclusivity.
The Western Zone also faces scrutiny, with Edo State allegedly monopolizing recent NBA presidential offices through Mr. Augustine Aleghe, SAN, and Mr. Olumide Akpata.
The case gains further urgency as prominent Anambra lawyers — Mr. Okey Ohagba, Esq., Dr. Rapuluchukwu Nduka, Esq., Mr. Chidi Ezenwafor, and Mr. Afam Okeke, Esq. — are reported to be preparing to contest for the General Secretary position in the 2026 NBA elections. The Plaintiff warns that their candidacies could deepen existing imbalances and erode trust within the NBA.
The NBA Constitution explicitly mandates that zoned positions be “rotated and held in turn by the different groups and/or sections in the geographical zone.” The Plaintiff’s legal team, led by Emeka Nwagwu, SAN, argues that failure to comply breaches the Constitution and threatens the unity and credibility of the NBA.
The NBA and ECNBA have been served and are expected to respond within 30 days.
