The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has invited the European Union (EU), the United States Embassy, the British High Commission and leading election observer groups to monitor its 2026 National Officers’ election scheduled for July 18.
The invitation, contained in separate letters signed by NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, is aimed at boosting public confidence in the transparency, credibility and integrity of the association’s electoral process.
Other organisations invited to observe the election include Yiaga Africa, the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) and other accredited election observer missions.
Osigwe described the NBA as Africa’s largest professional association of lawyers, noting that it has remained a strong defender of constitutional democracy, the rule of law, human rights and institutional independence.
He said the association’s internal elections have consistently reflected the principles of accountability, inclusiveness and transparency.
According to the NBA, the election will be conducted electronically, with both local and international observers stationed at the Central Election Control Room at the NBA National Secretariat in Abuja.
The control room will oversee election management, technical operations, result collation and observer accreditation, while giving observers direct access to officials of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) and the declaration of results.
The association explained that the decision to invite independent observers followed recent attempts by external interests to interfere in its electoral process through efforts to obtain directives aimed at postponing the election and imposing conditions outside the provisions of the NBA Constitution.
It described such actions as an unprecedented attempt to undermine the independence of the legal body’s internal democratic process.
The NBA expressed confidence that the presence of both international and domestic observers would reinforce democratic values, enhance transparency and strengthen confidence in the credibility of the election.
It also reaffirmed its commitment to conducting a free, fair and credible poll in line with its Constitution and global best practices.
