Justice Taiwo Taiwo says transparent voting and identity verification are essential to restoring confidence in NBA elections as senior lawyer Boma Alabi SAN rejects regional endorsements and demands greater accountability.
By Joyce Adaji
ABUJA, Nigeria — July 16, 2026
A retired Judge of the Federal High Court and former Second Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Justice Taiwo Taiwo, has thrown his weight behind the use of the National Identification Number (NIN) to verify lawyers eligible to vote in the association’s elections, describing the measure as a critical step toward strengthening transparency, accountability and credibility in the NBA’s electoral process.
The retired jurist also called for far-reaching reforms to the conduct of NBA elections, warning that persistent controversies surrounding the association’s leadership contests threaten the democratic ideals expected of Nigeria’s foremost professional body for legal practitioners.
His intervention comes amid renewed debate over the credibility of the NBA’s electoral system ahead of the association’s forthcoming national elections.
Judge Says Current Crisis Was Foreseeable
In a statement titled “Let the Truth Be Told! My Take on the Election Crisis That Is Ongoing in the NBA,” Justice Taiwo said he had anticipated the current electoral controversy years earlier and publicly warned about the need for reforms during his valedictory court session in 2022.
The former judge, who retired from the Federal High Court on July 31, 2022, expressed concern over the recurring disputes that have continued to trail NBA elections.
“I am disturbed, to say the least, about the discordant tunes concerning the elections to offices in the NBA,” he stated.
According to him, disagreements over the integrity of the association’s electoral process are not new, noting that several aggrieved members have challenged previous election outcomes before Nigerian courts.
“Many outside the inner circle of the ‘powers’ behind the scenes cannot know what goes on. Persons have gone to court on NBA election outcomes in the past. Those who did know why they did,” he said.
Calls for Democratic and Transparent Elections
Justice Taiwo reproduced excerpts from his 2022 valedictory speech in which he advocated comprehensive reforms aimed at strengthening internal democracy within the Nigerian Bar Association.
He argued that the emergence of an NBA President should never appear predetermined before the incumbent completes his tenure.
“I belong to the NBA by reason of my profession. I want the best for the association, especially for it to evolve in a democratic and transparent way in the election of its officers,” he said.
The retired jurist maintained that the leadership of the NBA should emerge solely through a transparent electoral process rather than through perceived political arrangements or internal power blocs.
Questions Over Predetermined Leadership
Justice Taiwo recounted an incident during his time on the Bench when he was allegedly informed in advance about who would become NBA President before the expiration of then-President Olumide Akpata’s tenure.
Although he did not identify the individual allegedly mentioned, he questioned how such predictions could be made in a democratic association.
“I asked myself how it was possible, knowing fully well that stargazing or clairvoyance are not courses in law,” he remarked.
The observation, according to him, reinforced his conviction that reforms were necessary to restore confidence in the association’s electoral process.
Supports NIN Verification for Lawyers
Among the proposals advanced by the retired judge is the use of the National Identification Number (NIN) as a verification tool for lawyers seeking to participate in NBA elections.
Justice Taiwo argued that identity verification would help eliminate disputes over voter eligibility while strengthening confidence in electronic voting.
“I support any move or action to ensure transparency. This means I support the use of NIN by lawyers desirous of voting in the election,” he stated.
His endorsement comes amid ongoing discussions within the NBA over measures to improve the integrity of its digital electoral process.
Electronic Voting from NBA Branches
Beyond identity verification, Justice Taiwo proposed a hybrid electronic voting model under which lawyers would vote electronically from their respective NBA branches on election day.
He explained that such an arrangement would preserve the convenience of electronic voting while introducing physical verification similar to procedures adopted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“I want to propose that on election day, all those interested in voting will go to their various branches physically to vote electronically, as is being done by INEC. This will ensure transparency in the electoral process in the NBA,” he said.
He also maintained that the NBA should be capable of conducting credible elections without relying on external election observers.
“We do not need any outsider to monitor the election of an association of legal practitioners,” he added.
Boma Alabi SAN Rejects Regional Endorsements
Meanwhile, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Mrs. Boma Alabi criticised the practice of adopting candidates through regional political forums ahead of NBA presidential elections.
She described the practice as outdated and inconsistent with democratic principles.
According to Alabi, endorsements by regional blocs have increasingly become divisive rather than unifying.
“The truth is this practice belongs in the dark ages, not in 2026,” she said.
She argued that lawyers across Nigeria should be free to make independent electoral choices without pressure from regional organisations.
“Lawyers across the country want to exercise their individual choice, not be told who to support by blocs,” she said.
Alabi further stated that open competition and universal suffrage better reflect the democratic values the legal profession seeks to uphold.
Transparency in IT Procurement
Alabi also stressed that the credibility of the NBA election would depend significantly on the process used to appoint the information technology company responsible for conducting the electronic election.
According to her, transparency in procurement is just as important as the technical competence of the service provider.
She identified several factors that should guide the selection process, including:
- Proven expertise in secure electronic voting;
- Transparent procurement procedures;
- Independence from candidates and interest groups; and
- Absence of conflicts of interest.
“The perception of impartiality is as important as technical capacity,” she said, noting that digital election systems leave verifiable electronic trails capable of independent audit.
Support for Universal Suffrage
The senior lawyer also reaffirmed her support for universal suffrage within the NBA, rejecting any return to delegate-based voting.
She argued that every lawyer should have an equal opportunity to participate directly in electing the association’s leadership.
“The delegates system concentrates power in the hands of a few, which is contrary to democratic ideals,” she stated.
She further advised candidates with concerns about the election process to deploy available technological tools to independently monitor electronic voting and safeguard the integrity of the exercise.
Broader Implications for the Legal Profession
The interventions by Justice Taiwo and Boma Alabi come at a time when professional associations across Nigeria are increasingly embracing digital electoral systems.
Observers say the issues raised—including voter verification, electoral transparency, procurement integrity and universal suffrage—reflect broader debates about governance, accountability and institutional credibility within professional bodies.
As the umbrella organisation for legal practitioners in Nigeria, the NBA’s electoral process is often viewed as a benchmark for democratic governance among professional associations.
With concerns over transparency dominating discussions ahead of the NBA elections, the calls by respected members of the legal profession for identity verification, electoral reforms and greater openness underscore growing demands for institutional accountability.
Whether the association adopts the proposed reforms may significantly influence public confidence in its leadership selection process and reinforce the NBA’s standing as a leading advocate of the rule of law, democratic governance and constitutionalism in Nigeria.
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