The Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) has dismissed allegations that the Preliminary Voters Register for the 2026 NBA National Elections is fraudulent or padded, describing the claims as unfounded, technically impossible, and legally misconceived.
The Committee clarified that the published register is the Preliminary Voters Register, compiled strictly in accordance with the provisions of the NBA Constitution 2015 (as amended in 2025). According to the ECNBA, only legal practitioners who paid their Annual Practising Fees on or before 31 March 2026 were included, in line with the constitutional requirements for voting eligibility.
Reacting to claims that the register merely represents a list of practising fee payers rather than accredited voters, the Committee maintained that eligibility to vote is determined by the NBA Constitution and not by participation in the administrative verification exercise. It explained that the verification process was introduced solely to allow eligible members to update or correct their contact details before the register is finalized.
The ECNBA also rejected allegations that the publication of the register could facilitate proxy voting. It explained that the electronic voting system requires each voter to authenticate their identity using their Supreme Court Enrolment Number (SCN) and a unique, time-sensitive One-Time Password (OTP) delivered to the voter’s registered email address or telephone number at the point of voting.
According to the Committee, the published register contains only members’ names and branches, without email addresses, telephone numbers, or SCNs, making proxy voting technically impossible.
On concerns about the inclusion of deceased members’ names, the Committee stated that such entries cannot result in fraudulent votes because successful voting still requires live authentication through the registered communication channels.
The Committee further noted that every stage of the 2026 NBA electoral process, including the timetable, public notices, appointment of the electronic voting service provider, stakeholder engagements, voter sensitisation programmes, and publication of the preliminary register, has been conducted transparently and in accordance with the NBA Constitution.
The ECNBA confirmed that the Final Voters Register will be published on Friday, 10 July 2026, following the conclusion of the verification and correction exercise, while the 2026 NBA National Elections remain scheduled for Saturday, 18 July 2026.
The Committee urged members of the Bar to rely on verified information and avoid misinformation capable of undermining confidence in the electoral process.
