NBA Confirms July 18 Election Despite DSS Arrest and Rigging Claims

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) confirmed its national elections for National Officers and the General Council of the Bar will proceed on July 18, 2026. The decision followed an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council on July 16, triggered by the Department of State Services (DSS) arresting the managing director of the association's election service provider at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. Authorities seized electronic devices, including a laptop containing electoral data, which the NBA condemned as a targeted move against the election.

Following the official's release, the Electoral Committee of the NBA affirmed that preparations remained on track. To address concerns over candidate imposition and rigging voiced by members and the Yoruba lawyers' group Egbe Amofin Oodua, the NBA invited the DSS, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, and foreign technical experts to monitor the process.

The association also modified its verification process, opting for SMS verification over email-based passwords, though it rejected the use of National Identification Number verification to avoid disenfranchising members. NBA President Afam Osigwe denied interfering in the independent electoral process and announced he would refrain from voting to demonstrate neutrality and alleviate concerns over bias.