By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Messages of goodwill have been pouring in for the newly elected President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olumide Akpata.
Akpata defeated two other candidates, Dr Babatunde Ajibade (SAN) and another Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dele Adesina, by a wide margin to clinch the prestigious position.
He polled 9,891 votes, representing 54.3 per cent of the votes cast. Ajibade scored 4,328 votes, while Adesina got 3,982 votes.
The election was by electronic voting and held for 24 hours from 11 pm on Wednesday.
Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the peoples democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 elections was one of the first to congratulate Akpata on Friday.
Taking to his confirmed Twitter handle, Abubakar wrote, “@OlumideAkpata’s victory at the just concluded @NigBarAssoc’s elections is proof that real power lies with the people. Congratulations, I am confident you will do well and also deliver convincingly on the mandate of which you now carry. -AA
Akpata’s victory is significant because it signalled a shift from the grip SANs had on the Bar leadership.
It represents a revolutionary break from the status quo, partly made possible by the introduction of a universal suffrage in which young lawyers made their numbers count, as against an electoral college system.
Akpata is the first non-SAN to be elected President of the Bar since 1989 when the late Alao Aka-Bashorun was at the helm.
Meanwhile, one of the contestants, Ajibade, has congratulated the winner even as the other contestant, Adesina, has faulted the electoral process and called for the cancellation of the exercise which he called “a sham”.
Ajibade said in a statement: “I have called Mr. Olumide Akpata and congratulated him on his election as the 30th President of our great association, the Nigerian Bar Association, in the elections held on 29th – 30th July 2020.
“As a co-contestant in the elections, I am proud of the level of the debate and the quality of the ideas that were brought forth, for the improvement of our association, the welfare of its members and the good of our society.
“It is unfortunate that the process leading up to and during the election itself has, once again, not been devoid of controversy.
“It is my fervent hope that we will get over these repeated challenges with conducting objectively free and fair elections into the leadership positions in the association.
“I remain resolute in my belief that we cannot succeed in addressing the challenges confronting our profession unless we unite and I urge the incoming President and his executive to take deliberate and proactive steps to unite the Bar.”
The task of managing the association’s image falls on Dr Rapuluchukwu Ernest Nduka, who was elected the National Publicity Secretary.
In a message to lawyers, he said: “It was tasking and I would not have gotten this far without your support, prayers and sacrifices. You gave everything to this project and the result was a product of your overwhelming effort.
“A new chapter begins. Your ideas and input will assist in fulfilling my manifesto.
“My opponent has graciously agreed to work with me, so we can have a ReBranded Bar. I strongly believe that we can achieve the goal as I promised in the campaigns with your assistance.”
Mr. Akpata has also promised to deliver on his campaign promises.
In a message on his Twitter handle on Friday titled, “Let us secure the future through a united bar that works for all, Akpata said, “Distinguished Learned Colleagues and Friends, I asked you to give me your mandate and join me in bringing about an Association that works for the majority of its members. Last night, you answered that call in an overwhelming and unequivocal manner. Thank you!”
