ECNBA Publishes Final List of Candidates

Stories by Steve Aya

The Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) has published the final list of qualified candidates for the 2026 national elections, after all pending appeals were resolved.

Earlier delays had arisen when the National Officers Election Appeals Committee (NOEAC) had to address appeals filed by disqualified aspirants. The NOEAC’s recent decisions ended those delays and clarified the electoral process.

Per the ECNBA, the final list was issued following the completion of screening and determination of appeals in accordance with the NBA Constitution 2015 (as amended in 2025) and ECNBA Notice No. 2 of February 9, 2026.

The Committee noted that two appeals were upheld in favour of Bulus Yohanna Atsen (FSI) and Onimisi Friday Umar, both Northern Zone aspirants contesting for NBA Representative to the General Council of the Bar.

In a notice signed by ECNBA Chairman Mr Aham Ejelam, SAN, and Secretary Mr Ibrahim Nassarawa, the Committee declared the list final and binding on all aspirants.

It added that candidates whose names do not appear on the list have been individually notified and were given the opportunity to appeal through the established constitutional process.

An analysis of the final list shows that the contest for major national offices remains largely unchanged, with three candidates each for the positions of NBA President and First Vice President.

Similarly, three candidates are expected to be returned unopposed for the positions of Second Vice President (Nuhu John Egya), Third Vice President (Irene Iniobong Pepple), and Treasurer (Esther Ifeoma Jimoh), following uncontested nominations.

However, the race remains competitive for other positions: six candidates vie for General Secretary, seven for Assistant General Secretary, five for Welfare Secretary, two for Publicity Secretary, and four for Assistant Publicity Secretary.

For the General Council of the Bar, eight candidates will contest in the Eastern Zone, while two candidates are set for the Western Zone, where they may be returned unopposed.

In the Northern Zone, the number of candidates increased from five to seven following the successful appeals.