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By Lukman Olabiyi
Nigerian lawyers have expressed concern over the recent annulment of the Nigerian Bar Association’s (NBA) Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL) electoral process, warning that the decision could cast a shadow over preparations for the 2026 NBA General Election.
The concerns were raised by Egbe Amofin Oodua (Yoruba Lawyers’ Forum) in a press release issued on December 31, 2025, in which the group described the cancellation of the SPIDEL election as a “dangerous signal” for internal democracy within the NBA.
According to the forum, the decision to halt the SPIDEL election was allegedly taken unilaterally by the NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, and was followed by the appointment of a caretaker committee to manage the affairs of SPIDEL for the next two years.
Egbe Amofin Oodua stated that the electoral process had reached an advanced stage before it was annulled, with some candidates reportedly emerging unopposed.
The group referenced public allegations by one of the affected candidates, Dr. Anne Agi, who detailed how the process was brought to an abrupt end during the SPIDEL Annual General Conference held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Drawing a historical parallel, the forum likened the development to the annulment of Nigeria’s June 12, 1993 presidential election, arguing that it undermines democratic principles within an association that frequently positions itself as a defender of due process and the rule of law.
The group further expressed concern over what it described as growing partisanship ahead of the 2026 NBA elections, alleging that the current leadership could no longer be trusted to oversee a free, fair, and credible electoral process.
It also raised questions about the neutrality of the NBA’s 2026 Electoral Committee, claiming its composition compromises confidence in the process.
Reacting to the NBA’s response to the allegations raised by Dr. Agi, Egbe Amofin Oodua rejected the association’s rejoinder, arguing that it failed to address the substance of the claims or show that the annulment of the SPIDEL election was based on formal complaints from aggrieved stakeholders.
As part of its demands, the forum called for the dissolution of the current 2026 NBA Electoral Committee and appealed to past NBA presidents and trustees to intervene to protect the integrity of the forthcoming elections. It warned that any attempt to manipulate the 2026 electoral process would be strongly resisted, describing the election year as a defining moment in the history of the NBA.
The forum also expressed solidarity with Dr. Anne Agi, Bridget Udokwe, and Barbara Tosan Onwubiko, commending them for what it described as their courage in speaking out against alleged undemocratic practices, and pledged continued support in resisting actions it considers detrimental to internal democracy within the association.
