My attention has been drawn to a misleading publication by some groug of individuals currently circulating on some online platforms alleging that the NBA President has shown/admit political biase in favour one of the aspirants at the just concluded NBA-NEC Meeting.
I deemed it necessary, in the interest of accuracy, institutional integrity, and responsible information dissemination, to categorically debunk the misleading narrative contained in the said publication.
I was personally present at the National Executive Committee (NEC) Meeting held in Maiduguri** referenced in the reports, and I state unequivocally as follows;
1. At no point did the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Afam Osigwe, SAN, admit to bias, nor did he make any statement reasonably capable of being interpreted as an endorsement or partisan alignment with any presidential aspirant.
2. The deliberations at the NEC Meeting were conducted within the bounds of decorum, neutrality, and institutional discipline, consistent with established NBA traditions.
3. The concern was majorly based on some items distributed at the just concluded NBA-NEC Meeting, I have to state at this point that all the aspirants at one point or the other distributed some items in their names at either the last NBA conferences, NEC Meetings and simular gathering of lawyers.
4. I remember vividly, at the Afam led administration’s first NEC Meeting held on the 7th of November, 2024 in Enugu, one of the aspirant shared a qualitative School Bags for the NEC members, I am a beneficiary and my son still use the school bag till date, the fact that the bags were shared at the registration desk of the NBA Secretariat Staff is enough evidence that the National Body of the Association have given a levelled play ground to all the aspirants, and since then no candidate has enjoyed that gesture from the National Body.
See a picture of my Son with the School Bag, Let’s be guided by facts not sentiments.
5. So also I have received diaries, makeup kids and ceramic cups in the same name as the bags and it seems to be alright but became a crime when a bottle water was shared by another candidate, haba learned colleagues, let’s play politics with fairness.
6. The President has reaffirming his commitment to fairness, due process, and equal treatment of all aspirants in the forthcoming NBA elections.
The NEC remains the highest decision-making body of the NBA between Annual General Meetings, and its proceedings should not be selectively reported or sensationalised to advance sectional or political interests.
The NBA leadership, under Mr. Afam Osigwe, SAN, remains committed to nba transparency, inclusiveness, and a credible electoral process, and any concerns should continue to be addressed through appropriate constitutional channels rather than public misrepresentation.
Signed:
Rashidat Mohammed, Esq.(001)
Chairman,
Nigerian Bar Association
Sokoto Branch
Dated this 8th day of February 2026
