NBA Confirms Saturday Election After SSS Releases Detained Official

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) announced on Thursday that its national election will take place on Saturday as planned.

This was revealed in a statement about the release of the managing director of the association’s election service provider by the State Security Service (SSS).

The NBA did not name the managing director or his company in the statement shared on its official X account on Thursday night.

They only confirmed that he had been detained and later released.

The NBA decided to go ahead with the election after an emergency virtual meeting of the NBA’s National Executive Council (NEC). They found no reason to delay the election, which is now just two days away.

The Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) reassured the NEC that everything was on track for the election.

They stated they were ready to conduct a “free, fair, transparent and credible” election on Saturday.

The NBA made this assurance shortly after a lawyer and former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chidi Odinkalu, raised concerns about the SSS detaining the managing director of the NBA’s election service provider.

Reports online say he was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos while heading to Abuja for the election.

Mr Odinkalu claimed that SSS operatives took the managing director’s laptop, mobile phones, and other electronic devices before detaining him. He alleged that this action aimed to disrupt the NBA election preparations.

NEC Condemns Arrest

NBA’s NEC condemned the SSS for arresting and detaining the managing director of the election service provider, calling it “deeply troubling.”

The council demanded his immediate and unconditional release, warning against any action that could harm the election's credibility.

Later, the association confirmed that the managing director had been released from custody shortly after the emergency meeting.

They urged eligible lawyers to stay calm, vote peacefully in Saturday’s election, and uphold the rule of law, democracy, and the independence of the legal profession.

The council also called on relevant authorities to respect the NBA’s autonomy and avoid any actions that might interfere with its democratic processes.

This situation adds to the ongoing issues surrounding the NBA election on Saturday.

In recent weeks, the process has faced disputes over candidate screening, the voters’ register, and other aspects of the electoral process.

Despite these controversies, the ECNBA has repeatedly stated that the election will go ahead on Saturday, 18 July, as planned.