Though the 2026 General Elections of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) are still about a year away, permutations are already rife as to what the outcome of those elections might be. This is even more so when the stakes are as high as the Presidency of the Association.
Among the developments making the rounds lately is the interface between two key interest groups which makes up the Western axis of the Association – namely, Egbe Amofin Oodua (an umbrella body comprising Bar members of Yoruba or S/West extraction) and the Midwest Bar Forum (MWBF, comprising lawyers from the Old Midwest Region, which, it can be recalled, was excised from the Old Western Region in the early 1960s, but now comprises the states of Edo and Delta).
In the latest exchange between these two groups, the MWBF has sent a letter to Egbe Amofin, addressing the latter’s earlier letter accusing one of MWBF’s leaders and a former NBA President, Mr. Augustine Alegeh, SAN, of attempting to ‘sabotage’ the chances of Egbe Amofin’s consensus candidate for the NBA Presidency in 2026.
NEWSWIRE Law Events Magazine recalls that Egbe Amofin had, in said letter, accused Alegeh of trying to sabotage the emergence of the Egbe Amofin’s consensus candidate, Mr. Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN as the next NBA President. “It is … baffling and profoundly disappointing,” the letter reportedly said, “that a former President and Trustee of our noble Association, who ought to be the custodian of its traditions and decisions, would now turn around to act in flagrant contradiction to the official and collective decision of his own region.”
This allegation, NEWSWIRE understands, is based on widespread perceptions that Alegeh (who was President of the Bar from 2014 to 2016, and remains a highly influential power broker and king-maker in NBA circles till date), may have thrown his weight behind another aspirant from the S/West geopolitical zone of the country. Apart from the afore-mentioned Mr. Akinboro, there are said to be three other aspirants gunning for the top seat.
“Egbe Amofin,” the letter went on to say, “cannot, and shall not, fold its arms while such divisive tendencies are foisted upon our Association. We therefore issue a clear caution to all desperate leaders of the Bar to desist from this ethically reprehensible conduct, lest they incur the justified opprobrium of the Egbe Amofin and the right-thinking members of the Bar.”
In its response, however, the MWBF debunked the Egbe’s accusations, saying its assertions about Alegeh’s purported influence were exaggerated.
“While we thank you for affirming the applicable constitutional provisions on sub-zoning of offices and the acceptance of same by the Western Zone,” the MWBF’s letter said, “we are unable to agree with you that any member of the Midwest Bar Forum … will dictate or impose on members of the Midwest Bar Forum any candidate for the 2026 NBA General Elections.”
The letter went on to say that MWBF, which is currently led by the human rights activist, Olukunle Edun, SAN, had not adopted any candidate for the NBA 2026 General Elections, as it respected the rights of each member to exercise his/her franchise freely. Every member of the MWBF, it added, has only one vote – and the afore-mentioned Mr. Alegeh was no exception.
“We wish to also state”* the letter went on, ” *that the MWBF is aware of four (4) candidates from the South West who have indicated interest in contesting for the office of the NBA President in 2026 and each of the four (4) candidates is still actively canvassing for support till date from NBA members.”
The forum stated that, having advised its own members to stand down in respect of their respective quests for the office of the NBA President in 2026 (to which they have since complied) the field is open only to candidates from the S/West – one of whom is sure to become the next NBA President. While not explicitly endorsing the consensus candidate of the Egbe Amofin, the MWBF says it commits itself (in the spirit of Bar unity) to support the candidate from the S/West that would emerge as the leader of the Nigerian Bar.
NEWSWIRE’s correspondent reports that copies of the MWBF’s letter were also sent to the President of the NBA; the NBA’s National Executive Council; Trustees of the Association; as well as past NBA Presidents and General Secretaries.
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