April 15, 2026 | SUNTV Global Channel
A fresh controversy has erupted within the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) as Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Muritala Abdul-Rasheed, accused the association’s President, Afam Osigwe, of engaging in partisan conduct ahead of the body’s forthcoming elections.
In a statement issued after a strategic advocacy meeting on women’s inclusion held on April 13, 2026, at Abuja Continental Hotel in Abuja, Abdul-Rasheed alleged that Osigwe’s reported endorsement of a female candidate amounted to an attempt to influence the electoral process and undermine the NBA’s zoning arrangement.
He described the development as a “troubling pattern of calculated partisanship,” arguing that the office of the NBA President is expected to remain neutral, fair, and above internal political interests.
Abdul-Rasheed insisted that existing zoning agreements within the South-West NBA bloc, particularly the Egbe Amofin arrangement, had already designated the presidency to the Oyo/Osun axis, excluding candidates from the Lagos/Ogun zone.
He questioned the rationale behind supporting a candidate outside the agreed rotation structure, asking whether there were no qualified female lawyers from the designated zone.
The senior advocate further criticised what he described as selective advocacy for gender inclusion, arguing that similar efforts were not promoted during the previous electoral cycle when it was the turn of Osigwe’s South-East region to produce the NBA President.
He also raised concerns over ongoing legal disputes surrounding the forthcoming election, alleging that the NBA leadership was disregarding court processes and undermining the rule of law.
According to him, such conduct risks eroding public trust in the NBA’s electoral integrity and its reputation as a defender of justice and democratic principles.
Abdul-Rasheed urged members of the association to resist any attempt to manipulate internal processes, stressing that fairness and transparency must be upheld at all times.
He added that while the emergence of a female NBA President remains a legitimate aspiration, it must follow due process rather than be influenced by the sitting leadership.
Efforts to reach Afam Osigwe for comment were unsuccessful as calls and messages were not returned at the time of filing this report.
