The 2026 election of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Gwagwalada Branch, popularly known as the Eagle Bar, has been postponed indefinitely following a directive from the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
The election was earlier scheduled to hold on Saturday, June 6, 2026.
In a notice issued by the Branch Secretary, John Oluwasina Adewakun, Esq., on behalf of the Branch Chairman, members were informed that the election had been suspended until further notice.
The notice read in part, “On behalf of the Chairman of the Branch, this is to formally notify all members that the 2026 Branch Election, earlier scheduled to hold tomorrow, the 6th June, 2026, has been postponed until further notice pursuant to a directive issued by the President of the Nigerian Bar Association.
“Accordingly, all electoral activities relating to the said election are hereby suspended pending further directives.”
The Branch Executive Committee also appealed to members to remain calm and await further communication, adding that a new date and other relevant details would be communicated in due course.
ASKLEGALPALACE correspondent observed a tense atmosphere around the branch election venue, with groups of lawyers gathered both inside and outside the premises. In some of the clips, members were seen engaging in heated exchanges, while security personnel and official vehicles were also visible around the area.
The postponement followed growing controversy over allegations of irregularities in the build-up to the election, including alleged tampering with the attendance register and the release of voters’ lists said to contain ineligible members while excluding some qualified members.
Some members alleged that the voters’ list had been repeatedly altered, claiming that one Electoral Committee had produced about five different lists with similar exclusions and inclusions.
One of the aggrieved members accused a group within the branch of being desperate to disqualify a candidate and, when that allegedly failed, resorting to manipulating the register and voters’ list.
According to the member, “The group of Associates were extremely desperate to disqualify a candidate by any means possible. When their efforts proved unsuccessful, they resorted to tampering with the attendance register; releasing a voters’ list that included numerous ineligible individuals while excluding qualified members who are known supporters of the candidate.”
The member further alleged that the actions violated the Bye-Laws and warned against proceeding with the election under the disputed circumstances.
The controversy also extended to claims that some former officers still retained influence over the branch platform and official communication channels, including allegations that the names of persons said not to be current executives still appeared on official branch materials.
One of the messages circulating among members stated, “This is not LAWSAN, this is the Nigerian Bar Association… We are flushing every form of impunity and illegality from the Eagle Bar.”
The message further warned that any attempt to proceed with the election despite the dispute would be resisted.
The Branch Executive Committee, however, urged members to cooperate with the postponement and remain committed to the peace, unity and progress of the branch.
All electoral activities have now been suspended pending further directives from the national leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association.
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