Rivers NBA Election Postponed Indefinitely Over Voters’ List Dispute

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Port Harcourt Branch, has indefinitely postponed its scheduled election following protests and disagreements over the publication of the voters’ register. The crisis led to heightened security at the NBA House in Port Harcourt, where the election was expected to hold.

Some candidates accused the Electoral Committee of failing to comply with the branch’s bye-laws by releasing the final voters’ list only hours before the election. A candidate for the position of Social Secretary, Chilezie Oluolu, alleged that the rules required the voters’ register to be published at least 14 days before the poll to allow members to review it and prepare for the election.

The disagreement escalated as some candidates staged a walkout in protest, while security operatives were deployed to prevent a possible breakdown of order. Efforts were made to calm tensions, but officials eventually postponed the election indefinitely.

The Electoral Committee has yet to announce a new date for the election. A former chairman of the NBA Port Harcourt Branch, Prince Nyekwere, confirmed the postponement, saying the branch had not received information on when the exercise would be rescheduled.