59,392 lawyers go to polls to elect new NBA chairman

No fewer than 59,392 lawyers – the highest ever – are expected to vote in the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) national elections holding today.

Voting electronically, they will choose the next leaders of the Bar, including the man to succeed Mr. Olumide Akpata as NBA President for the next two years.

Fifty-three candidates are in the race, according to the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA).

According to official entries, the number of lawyers produced in the country was 197,105 as of July 2021.

 The positions being contested for include President, 1st Vice-President, 2nd Vice-President, 3rd Vice-President, General Secretary, Assistant General Secretary, Treasurer, Welfare Secretary, Publicity Secretary, Ass.Publicity Secretary and General Council of the Bar.

For this year’s election, it is the North’s turn to produce the President and the three contenders for the NBA Presidency are Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN), Mikyau Chonoko Yakubu (SAN) and Jonathan Gunu Taidi.

The 1st Vice-President contestants are Bala Linda, Bawa Yakubu and Liman Salihu.

Candidates for the post of 2nd Vice-President are Abonyi Gerald, Chukwuemeka Clement and Nosike Damian while Asagba Justina and Ogbah Isaac as contestants are for 3rd Vice-President.

For General Secretary, those to face the voters are Adegbite Adesina, Asenoguan Osamuede, Ogiegbaen Callistus and Yamah Desmond, while Aka Oluwaseun, Balogun Dhikrullah, Kip Daniel and Oseme Peremene are to slug it out for the Assistant General Secretary post.

The Treasurer has Adeogun Funmilola, Anze-Bishop Caroline and Balarabe Safiya as contestants, while Welfare Secretary will have Adaramola Gbemiga, Aniekwena Ben, Auta Nyada, Obasi Chinyere and Ugwuoke Ikechukwu slug it out for the post.

The Publicity Secretary position will see Emoghwanre Ogaga and Lawal Akorede battle each other at the poll; while the Assistant Publicity Secretary post will be contested for by Ajiboye Charles and Nwoye Akachukwu. (The Nation: Text, excluding headline)