The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has issued a directive mandating all its branches to conduct elections into executive offices in June of the election year, in line with the provisions of its Uniform Bye-Laws. The directive, communicated by the General Secretary, , emphasizes strict compliance with the association’s constitutional framework, regardless of whether the tenure of existing branch executives extends beyond the stipulated period.
The NBA further instructed that all branches must constitute their Branch Electoral Committees within the month of March to oversee the electoral process, in accordance with the Bye-Laws. The association clarified that while elections must hold in June, the inauguration of newly elected executives will align with the second anniversary of the outgoing committees, reinforcing adherence to due process and institutional order across all branches, including newly established ones.
Read full statement below;
DIRECTIVE ON CONDUCT OF BRANCH ELECTIONS AND CONSTITUTION OF BRANCH ELECTORAL COMMITTEES
Distinguished Chairmen, Pursuant to the provisions of Article 14 of the Nigerian Bar Association Uniform Bye-Laws for Branches (Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Nigerian Bar Association, 2015, as amended in 2025), I write to reiterate that elections into Branch Offices shall be conducted in the month of June of the election year. Accordingly, all Branch Executive Committees whose tenure of office ends in the current election year shall conduct their branch elections in June of this year, irrespective of whether the tenure of the current Branch Executive Committee extends beyond that period. For the avoidance of doubt, where the tenure of the outgoing Branch Executive Committee will not lapse by June, the election shall nonetheless be held in June. However, the inauguration of the incoming Executive Committee shall take place on the second anniversary of the inauguration of the outgoing Executive Committee, in strict compliance with the said Uniform Bye-Laws. Further to this, and to ensure compliance with the provisions of Article 16 of the Bye-Laws, a duly constituted Branch Electoral Committee shall be put in place within the month of March. The Electoral Committee shall, in compliance with Article 9(2) of the Uniform Bye-Laws, consist of five members, two of whom must have been members of the Branch (except in the case of newly created branches) for at least five years. The composition of the Electoral Committee shall be promptly communicated to the Office of the General Secretary upon its constitution. This directive applies to all Branches whose elections fall due this year, including newly created Branches. Please accept the assurances of my highest regards.
Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara, FNIM, FCIArb
General Secretary
