NBA election: Its time for members to freely choose their president - Boma Alabi

Boma Alabi, former President of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, is advocating for enhanced internal democracy within the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) elections. She insists that NBA members must have the freedom to elect their leaders without pressure from regional endorsements, a practice she believes is outdated.

Alabi, who also served as the immediate past Chairman of the NBA Section on Legal Practice, stated during a media parley that the tradition of regional forums adopting candidates has outlived its usefulness. She argued that such endorsements create divisions rather than unity among the association's members.

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The truth is this practice belongs in the dark ages, not in 2026. Adoption by regional fora may have had some utility in the past, but in today's NBA, it has become more divisive than unifying.

"The truth is this practice belongs in the dark ages, not in 2026. Adoption by regional fora may have had some utility in the past, but in today's NBA, it has become more divisive than unifying," Alabi said. She emphasized that lawyers should be empowered to exercise their individual choices at the polls, free from the direction of interest groups.

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The credibility of our elections rests heavily on the IT company chosen to manage the process. What we need is not just competence but also trust. The perception of impartiality is as important as technical capacity.

Addressing concerns about the electronic voting system, Alabi highlighted the critical need for transparency in selecting the IT firm responsible for managing the election. The credibility of the entire process, she noted, hinges on the confidence members have in the electoral system. "The credibility of our elections rests heavily on the IT company chosen to manage the process. What we need is not just competence but also trust. The perception of impartiality is as important as technical capacity," she stated.

Furthermore, Alabi expressed strong support for universal suffrage, contrasting it with the delegate model. She believes universal suffrage is a more democratic system, ensuring every lawyer has a voice in choosing leadership, whereas the delegate system concentrates power in the hands of a few. Alabi also cautioned against external interference, particularly regarding a memorandum from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, stressing that the NBA's independence should be protected.

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I stand firmly on the side of universal suffrage. The NBA is a diverse body, and every lawyer deserves a voice in choosing its leadership. The delegates system concentrates power in the hands of a few, which is contrary to democratic ideals.