Tinubu Accused of Influencing NBA Election

President Bola Tinubu has been accused of influencing the ongoing 2024 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) presidential election.

According to sources who spoke with PulseNets on Saturday, the integrity of the election, conducted by the Electoral Committee of the NBA (EC-NBA), is marred by the influence of the president.

The source stated that the presidency was interested in the election based on the vital position of the NBA president.

“The NBA elections started on Friday night and will end the following midnight; however, shortly after it started, we noticed that the figures were [too] static for a voting platform that was live and refreshed every 30 minutes,” the source told PulseNets.

“For about six hours, Osigwe was leading the elections with about 45 percent, while the other two candidates shared the remaining figures.

“We were worried as to what could be wrong because the figures were static while people voted, and this is for a system that refreshes every 60 seconds.

“It was like someone was behind the scene pulling the plug and controlling the system.”

The source further stated that when they began to interrogate the glitch, they discovered that messages had been circulating that the presidency was interested in Osigwe emerging as the winner of the election.

“Soon enough, we saw screenshots stating that the president wanted Osigwe to emerge as the winner. This message was circulated among senior lawyers in the south west,” the source said.

“It showed that the elections were predetermined and there was a data breach. There are over 72,000 lawyers qualified to vote in elections, and when new participants tried to vote, the system stated that they’d voted before, which also signified that their information had been compromised.”

FIJ obtained one of the circulated screenshots, sent to Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN). The message shared on WhatsApp stated, “Ojo, good evening my brother. I just got a phone call from Asiwaju, the President and C-in-C that we should all vote Afam Osigwe SAN as the President of the NBA. You can confirm from the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) or Tunde Ogala if in doubt. Please spread the gospel.”

However, another source who spoke anonymously with PulseNets stated that there were credible evidence that Osigwe rigged the election.

“I can’t confirm the circulating screenshot, but I am certain Afam rigged it.”

The election was contested by Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), Chukwuka Ikwuazom (SAN) and Tobenna Erojikwe.

Meanwhile, Ikwuazom announced his withdrawal from the race on Saturday morning due to an alleged compromise on the election’s integrity.

He said that the reported figures did not align with the true expression of the votes and it appeared that the system had been manipulated to favour one candidate.

“Since the commencement of voting earlier today, my supporters and I have observed disturbing patterns that do not align with the actual votes cast. It has become increasingly evident that the integrity of the electoral process has been compromised. Despite the overwhelming support from my dedicated supporters, the reported figures do not align with the true expression of our votes. It would appear that the system has been manipulated to favour a predetermined outcome, consistently placing me in third position,” Ikwuazom’s statement reads in part.

Another lawyer stated that Ikwuazom’s withdrawal from the race was a bid to save his face.

“He is coming in a distant third in the election, despite having the loudest campaigns. His withdrawal is just to save his face,” he said.

PulseNets also obtained a statement signed by Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Minister of Justice, on Saturday, debunking the alleged president’s influence in the NBA elections.

Fagbemi said the president was a democrat and had not endorsed anyone as a preferred candidate in the elections.

NBA ELECTION: PRESIDENT TINUBU HAS NO PREFERRED CANDIDATE – AGF

My attention has been drawn to the news making the rounds in the social media to the effect that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has endorsed Afam Osigwe SAN as his preferred candidate in the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) election.

To buttress these lies, I was made a point of reference for confirmation.

I wish to state categorically, that at no time did Mr President give any such instruction.

I completely dissociate myself from such statement because nothing of such happened.

I am also in a position to confirm, and I do so, that the president neither had discussion with the author nor did he give any such divisive instruction. I also had no such discussion with anyone.

The news is a lie from the pit of hell being peddled about by mischief makers seeking cheap popularity to ride on the acceptance of Mr President among lawyers.

Mr President is a democrat who believes in playing by the rules. He has not and will not endorse anyone as a preferred candidate in the ongoing NBA election.

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As a democrat and president of the country, he will abide by the outcome of a free and fair election. He is also ready to work with any candidate that emerges.

I seize this opportunity to call on those who are bent on causing disaffection among NBA members on the one hand and between our respected president and the respected NBA on the other hand, to desist from such an unprofitable venture.

The president wishes the NBA a hitch free election and is looking forward to working with whoever emerges.