It appears that the Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA) Aba Branch is about to face its own share of transition crisis following conflicting reports making round regarding its scheduled June 30 General Election.
Two conflicting reports are making round on whether the election actually held nor not. While one report revealed that the election was marred by violence and aborted the other insisted that the election was held and winners sworn in according to the schedule of the Branch’s 2017 law week activities.
Who then do we believe?
A member of the Bar Association from the camp of those who said the election did not hold gave a step by step report of what transpired at the Emman Akwiwu Bar Center venue of the election. In his report he stated that trouble started when the Electoral Committee published list of eligible voters just few minutes before voting commenced. He stated that many lawyers who were qualified to vote could not find their names on the list and demanded that the election should not proceed since they would be disenfranchised. He also noted that some lawyers from the Branch had since 28th June written a petition to the NBA National Body to stop the election on the ground of what he referred to as breach of the provision of the constitution.
He noted further that with the above issues on ground the Electoral Committee Chairman tried to commence the election exercise and infuriated those seeking a postponement leading to the disruption of the exercise. He said that it took the intervention of law enforcement agencies to restore peace insisting that no election was held afterwards.
However another report reaching us indicates that not only was election held in NBA Aba Branch yesterday but that the election was peaceful, free and fair and successful candidates sworn in by a Notary Public, Sir Kelechi Ukaumunna.
The report indicates that Mr. Bob Ogu beat his opponent Mr. Uchenna Umenne by 119 votes to 48 votes to emerge Chairman of the branch. Others who were elected and sworn in yesterday according to the report are C. C. Nwachukwu who worn the position of the Vice Chairman; Chisom Kalu voted in as Secretary and Uzoma Nwogu voted in as Assistant Secretary.
Others are Emeka Eze Social Secretary, Faith Agwu Adediran, Welfare Secretary, Treasure E. N. Udo Treasurer; H. I. Udensi Publicity Secretary; Irene Ijeoma Aliche Financial Secretary; Sylvester Ifeakor Legal Adviser and Patience Ihudia Chukwu provost.
The next couple of days would clear the air regarding what exactly transpired during the election.
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