Rivers NBA election postponed as protest erupts over voters’ list

The election for the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Port Harcourt Branch, scheduled for Friday, was indefinitely postponed following a significant crisis centered on the voters' register. The situation led to a heavy security presence at the NBA House, the intended venue for the polls.

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To everyone’s surprise, yesterday night, around 10:45 p.m. to 11 p.m., they published the final voters’ list. Meanwhile, we have never had any conversation as to the modalities for the election, and the bye-laws say that if you’re publishing a final voters’ list, you must give 14 days before the election, within which you would have spoken to members, explained the modalities, and allowed them to bring their agents for the final briefing before we get ready for the election.

Several candidates voiced strong dissatisfaction with the electoral process. Chilezie Oluolu, a candidate for Social Secretary, alleged that the Electoral Committee failed to adhere to the branch's bye-laws. Specifically, he pointed out the late publication of the final voters' list, which he claims occurred only the night before the election, violating a by-law requiring a 14-day notice period before an election.

Oluolu stated that there had been no prior discussion regarding election modalities, and the bye-laws mandate a period for members to be informed and for their agents to participate in final briefings. The candidates argued that the late publication and the rushed timeline were unacceptable, leading some to stage a walkout in protest.

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Yet they published it and said the election must hold this morning. The publication announcing the election came out last night, as well as the final voters’ list. And we are saying that is not how it should be. We are not satisfied.

Despite attempts to de-escalate the situation, the election was postponed to prevent any potential breach of peace. The Electoral Committee has not yet announced a new date for the rescheduled election. A former Chairman of the NBA Port Harcourt Branch, Prince Nyekwere, confirmed the postponement.

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They have not given us a new date yet.