Presidential candidate in the 2026 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) election, Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, SAN, has strongly criticised the conduct of the just-concluded NBA presidential election, describing the process as “shambolic” and alleging that thousands of lawyers were denied the opportunity to exercise their voting rights due to the collapse of the electronic voting platform. In a post-election statement issued on Saturday, Akangbe thanked lawyers across the country for their determination despite spending hours attempting to access the voting portal, insisting that many members were disenfranchised through no fault of theirs.
Akangbe questioned the decision of the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA) to move the election date forward and introduce a new SMS-based authentication system barely two days before voting commenced. According to him, an earlier agreement reached with key stakeholders to postpone the election and allow members to familiarise themselves with the new voting process was ignored. He argued that the platform’s failure, reportedly blamed on a cyberattack, exposed inadequate preparation and a lack of proper stress testing for an election involving more than 82,000 accredited voters.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria further disclosed that he was personally unable to cast his vote despite direct intervention by senior NBA officials, including the ECNBA Chairman and the NBA President. He maintained that if a presidential candidate could not successfully access the voting platform despite such assistance, ordinary lawyers across the country stood little chance. Akangbe also highlighted what he described as a sharp decline in voter participation, noting that only about 27 per cent of eligible voters reportedly cast their ballots, compared to participation rates of over 56 per cent in the previous two NBA elections.
Raising further concerns over the credibility of the exercise, Akangbe alleged that there were documented reports of multiple voting on the same platform, while also pointing to technical issues, including the initial display of only one candidate’s photograph on the presidential ballot. He argued that these irregularities, coupled with the widespread inability of members to vote, have severely undermined the integrity of the election. According to him, the NBA risks losing the moral authority to demand transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s electoral process if it cannot conduct its own elections credibly.
While refraining from commenting on the declared outcome of the election, Akangbe revealed that he is consulting with his team and reviewing all available legal options. He disclosed that evidence, including screenshots, failed authentication attempts and reports from affected voters, is being compiled for possible action. Reaffirming his commitment to his campaign vision of “Elevating the Bar,” the senior lawyer assured supporters that his pursuit of a transparent, accountable and credible Nigerian Bar Association would continue beyond the 2026 election.
Read full statement below;
Thank you.
To every lawyer who stayed awake for two nights trying to cast a single vote. Who refreshed a broken portal at 1am, at 3am, at 5am. Who tried on phones, laptops, borrowed devices. Who did not give up.
You were not apathetic. You were disenfranchised. There is a difference.
I am a presidential candidate. I could not vote. The ECNBA Chairman and the NBA President personally sent me five separate links. Not one of them worked. If they could not get the platform to work for a candidate they were personally trying to help, what happened to the ordinary member in Jalingo or Ado-Ekiti who had no one highly placed to call?
In 2022, nearly 59% of eligible lawyers voted. Yesterday, with 82,164 accredited voters, approximately 27% managed to cast a ballot. That is not apathy. That is suppression.
I am reviewing all options. Accountability is coming.
But this moment is about the lawyers of this country who deserved better from the institution they belong to. This campaign was never about one man. The mission does not end here.
I am not going anywhere.
Thank you for your courage. Thank you for staying.
Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, SAN, FCIArb
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