In preparation for its 2024 national elections, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has announced its adoption of an electronic voting system to ensure transparency and accessibility for its members.
Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA), Mr. Oluseun Abimbola, SAN, revealed the association’s plans during the opening of nomination forms at the NBA Secretariat in Abuja. He emphasized that the electronic voting system will enable members to cast their ballots securely from their respective locations, enhancing convenience and participation.
With 50 lawyers already declaring their intentions to contest various national positions, and an expected participation of over 150,000 lawyers from 120 branches nationwide, the ECNBA is committed to safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process.
Abimbola assured transparency at every stage, stating, “Our voting system is electronic so that members can vote from their respective locations.” He further mentioned that guidelines governing the process would be issued to ensure clarity and fairness.
Responding to inquiries about result transparency, Abimbola affirmed that candidates and their representatives would have access to the system’s backend to verify results. However, he stated the importance of maintaining security measures to prevent unauthorized access.
The move towards electronic voting follows the precedent set by the NBA’s previous national elections in 2022. Despite allegations of electoral irregularities by Chief J. K. Gadzama, SAN, the incumbent President, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, emphasized the integrity of the process and advocated for technology-driven electoral systems.
Maikyau urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to observe and learn from the NBA’s approach to leverage technology for nationwide voting. He stated the potential for enhancing voter participation by enabling citizens to cast their votes conveniently from home.
