Blames delayed SMS codes on heavy traffic, warns against multiple requests
The Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association has issued fresh guidance to lawyers experiencing delays in receiving SMS One-Time Passwords required to vote in the ongoing 2026 NBA National Elections.
In a notice sent to members on Saturday, July 18, 2026, the Committee acknowledged that heavy traffic on the e-voting platform may delay the delivery of OTPs to eligible voters.
The ECNBA urged affected voters to remain patient and follow the prescribed authentication steps rather than repeatedly requesting fresh codes.
According to the Committee, any voter who does not receive an OTP within five minutes of making a request should log out of the e-voting portal completely, wait for twenty minutes, and then log in again to request a fresh OTP.
The Committee warned that repeated OTP requests could further congest the system and prolong delays for other voters attempting to authenticate and cast their ballots.
ECNBA also advised voters to ensure that they have adequate network coverage, check their SMS inbox, spam or blocked message folders, confirm that their registered phone numbers are correct, and ensure that their phones are not on “Do Not Disturb” mode.
The Committee further urged voters to use the OTP immediately upon receipt, noting that the code expires after a short period.
Reassuring members on the integrity of the process, the ECNBA said the e-voting system was currently processing high traffic and emphasised that every validly cast vote would count.
It also advised voters who successfully cast their ballots to check their email for their voting reference number.
For further assistance, the Committee directed voters to contact its helpdesk through call or WhatsApp on 08144274159, 09161044495, or 08104510797.
The notice was signed by Ahame Ejelam, SAN, Chairman of the ECNBA, and Ibrahim Aliyu Nassarawa, Esq., Secretary.
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