Olisa Agbakoba, senior advocate of Nigeria, SAN, has reacted to a press statement by Gadzama Campaign organization, which alleged electoral malpractices during the recent elections of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, and called for fresh elections. “I cannot confirm whether there were electoral malpractices but I like to make it clear that virtually every election of the Nigerian Bar Association has been criticized as unfair. Nonetheless, I do not recall any case where statement such as issued by the Gadzama Campaign Organization, calling for cancellation of the election and holding of fresh ones, has ever been made,” said Agbakoba.

As a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Agbakoba urged the Gadzama Campaign Organization to take the election results in good faith. “It will not be in our interest to create challenges for our Association. The newly introduced voting system may have had challenges but it was an innovative easy voting procedure,” he explained.

Continuing, Agbakoba said he understood the reaction of the Campaign Organization but that it was important to protect the integrity of NBA. “At this stage, what we need as an Association is unity. I appeal to the Gadzama Campaign Organization to accept the election results in good faith and accept A. B. Mahmoud, SAN, as our new President,” note Agbakoba.