The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has stated that its 2026 national officers and General Council of the Bar elections will proceed as scheduled on Saturday, July 18, despite the arrest and subsequent release of the managing director of its election service provider by the Department of State Services.
After an emergency virtual meeting of its National Executive Council on Thursday, the group issued a statement announcing the decision.
According to the NBA, the council overwhelmingly reiterated its support for constitutional governance, institutional independence, and the integrity of the organization’s democratic processes.
“During the meeting, the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) briefed the council on the state of preparations for the elections and unequivocally affirmed its readiness to conduct a free, fair, transparent, and credible poll on Saturday, 18 July 2026.
“The committee informed NEC that there was no operational or logistical basis for postponing the elections, as all necessary arrangements remained firmly on course,” the statement said.
The council emphasized that no external interference or unforeseen circumstance would derail the election timetable approved by the association.
“NEC emphasized that no external interference or unforeseen circumstance would derail the electoral timetable approved by the association, stressing that the credibility and integrity of the NBA’s democratic institutions must be protected at all times,” it stated.
The association also condemned the arrest and detention of the managing director of its election service provider by the DSS, describing the development as “deeply troubling.”
“Shortly after the emergency meeting, it was confirmed that the managing director had been released from custody.
“With these developments, the election scheduled for Saturday, 18 July 2026, remains uninterrupted,” the statement added.
The NBA urged all eligible members to remain calm, vote peacefully, and continue to support democratic ideals and the legal profession’s independence.
It also encouraged relevant authorities to maintain the association’s autonomy and desist from acts that could disrupt its democratic processes.
