In a press release dated August 13, 2024, Tobenna Erojikwe, a presidential candidate in the recent Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) National Officers Elections, has raised serious concerns about the electoral process and subsequent appeal proceedings.
Erojikwe revealed that his initial request for an audit of the July 20, 2024 elections, made in accordance with the NBA Constitution, was rejected by the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) on July 26. This rejection, he claims, has “heightened their misgivings about the Elections” among many of his colleagues.
Despite this setback, Erojikwe emphasized the importance of continued engagement with the NBA’s processes, stating, “We cannot allow ourselves to become disenchanted or uninterested in the affairs of the Nigerian Bar Association because of what appears to be the untoward conduct of a few.”
On July 31, Erojikwe lodged a formal petition with the NBA National Officers Elections Appeal Committee, challenging the election results and conduct. He also submitted three subpoenas on August 9, seeking the production of relevant election materials and documents.
However, Erojikwe expressed concerns about the appeal process, highlighting several issues:
1. Extremely short notice for the appeal hearing, with venue details provided just minutes before the scheduled start time.
2. The Appeal Committee’s decision not to receive evidence or hear witnesses, claiming to be merely a “fact-finding Committee.”
3. Apparent ex parte discussions about his petition outside the official Appeal Committee sitting.
4. Potential jurisdictional issues due to the Appeal Committee’s composition not matching constitutional requirements.
Erojikwe also criticized the ECNBA’s recent actions, stating, “On Tuesday, 13th August, 2024, my attention was drawn to reports in the social media that the ECNBA had conducted an audit and issued a ‘Final Report’ of the Elections.” He argues that this internal audit falls short of the independent scrutiny mandated by the NBA Constitution.
Quoting directly from the NBA Constitution, Erojikwe emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in the electoral process. He stated, “I want to make it clear that all I have done since after the Elections is to ask the ECNBA to abide by the above provisions of the NBA Constitution and I will continue to do so.”
The legal community and wider public will be closely watching how the NBA leadership responds to these challenges and whether reforms will be implemented to address the concerns raised by Erojikwe and others.
