The Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), Chief Aham Ejelam (SAN), has declared that there will be no postponement of the July 18, 2026, national officers’ election, insisting that the electoral process will proceed as scheduled, Peak Newspaper reports.
Ejelam made the declaration in a statement issued on Sunday, following calls by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Yemi Alliyu, for him to resign as chairman of the electoral committee over concerns surrounding the conduct of the election.
He maintained that the ECNBA remains constitutionally empowered to conduct the election and that the committee would continue to discharge its responsibilities unless directed otherwise by a competent organ of the Nigerian Bar Association or a court of competent jurisdiction.
According to him, his appointment was not driven by personal ambition or political considerations, stressing that he would not relinquish the responsibility because of what he described as blackmail, personal attacks or threats to his reputation.
Ejelam also dismissed allegations of corruption and claims that the election service provider was imposed on the committee, describing the accusations as unsubstantiated. He challenged anyone with credible evidence of wrongdoing or electoral manipulation to present it before the committee or the appropriate investigative authorities.
The ECNBA chairman said the committee had demonstrated transparency through the publication of preliminary and branch-by-branch voters’ registers, opportunities for corrections and voter sensitisation exercises, adding that these measures were aimed at ensuring a credible electoral process.
He assured members of the association that the committee would remain impartial and provide every eligible lawyer with the opportunity to vote and be voted for in accordance with the NBA Constitution and the electoral guidelines.
Ejelam reiterated that the election would hold on Saturday, July 18, 2026, and urged stakeholders to support a peaceful and credible process in the interest of the legal profession.
