Court Restrains NBA President, Electoral Committee From 2026 Election Activities

An Oyo State High Court in Ibadan has restricted members of the Nigerian Bar Association’s (NBA) electoral committee from carrying out any duties related to the association’s 2026 national officers’ election.

The court also prevented NBA President Afam Osigwe from forming the electoral committee or interfering in the election process until further notice.

The ex parte order, delivered on March 4 by Judge G. A. Opayinka, followed an application by four lawyers, including Ibrahim Lawal, Raymond Oki, Omotan Olusola Ogunmodede, and Gabriel Ojo Adekunle Ijalana, who challenged the validity of the electoral process.

According to the ruling, the fifth to ninth defendants are forbidden from presenting themselves as chairman, secretary, or members of the electoral committee or from participating in any activities connected to the 2026 national officers’ election.

The NBA president received a similar order, preventing him from supervising, influencing, or taking any steps toward the committee’s formation.

These orders will remain in effect until the court hears a motion for an interlocutory injunction, scheduled for March 12.

The lawsuit, marked I/221/2026, names the incorporated trustees of the NBA, Osigwe, the body of benchers, the attorney-general of the federation, and several electoral committee members, including ECNBA Chairman Ahamefule J. Elam, as defendants.

Previously, on February 24, the same court issued an interim order halting the NBA from processing or recognizing any presidential candidate for the 2026 election, except for the consensus candidate of Egbe Amofin O’odua.

That ruling temporarily paused the nomination process while the court considered a related application.

With the latest order in place, both the timeline and conduct of the NBA’s 2026 national officers’ election remain uncertain.

KanyiDaily recalls that the NBA recently called for suspension of the implementation of the Tax Reform Acts.