Is NBA Aba Branch About to Face Transition Crisis?

It appears that the Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA) Aba Branch
is about to face its own share of transition crisis following
conflicting reports making round regarding its scheduled June 30
General Election.

Two conflicting reports are making round on whether the election
actually held nor not. While one report revealed that the election
was marred by violence and aborted the other insisted that the
election was held and winners sworn in  according to the
schedule of the Branch’s  2017  law week activities.

Who then do we believe?
A member of the Bar Association from the camp of those who said the
election did not hold gave a step by step report of what transpired
at the  Emman Akwiwu Bar Center venue of the election. In his
report he stated that trouble started when the Electoral Committee
published list of eligible voters just few minutes before voting
commenced. He stated that many lawyers who were qualified to vote
could not find their names on the list and demanded that the
election should not proceed since they would be
disenfranchised.

He also noted that some lawyers from the Branch had since 28th
June written a petition to the NBA National Body to stop the
election on the ground of what he referred to as breach of the
provision of the constitution.

He noted further that with the above issues on ground the
Electoral Committee Chairman tried to commence the election
exercise and infuriated those seeking a postponement leading to the
disruption of the exercise. He said that it took the intervention
of law enforcement agencies to restore peace insisting that no
election was held afterwards.

However another report reaching us  indicates  that
not only was election held in NBA Aba Branch yesterday but that the
election was peaceful, free and fair and successful candidates
sworn in  by a Notary Public, Sir Kelechi Ukaumunna.

The report indicates that Mr. Bob Ogu beat his opponent Mr.
Uchenna Umenne by 119 votes to 48 votes to emerge Chairman of the
branch. Others who were elected and sworn in yesterday according to
the report are C. C. Nwachukwu who worn the position of the Vice
Chairman; Chisom Kalu voted in as Secretary and  Uzoma Nwogu
voted in as Assistant Secretary.

Others are Emeka Eze Social Secretary, Faith Agwu Adediran,
Welfare Secretary, Treasure E. N. Udo Treasurer; H. I. Udensi
Publicity Secretary; Irene Ijeoma Aliche Financial Secretary;
Sylvester Ifeakor Legal Adviser and Patience Ihudia Chukwu
provost.

The next couple of days would clear the air regarding what
exactly transpired during the election.

It appears that the Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA) Aba Branch
is about to face its own share of transition crisis following
conflicting reports making round regarding its scheduled June 30
General Election.

Two conflicting reports are making round on whether the election
actually held nor not. While one report revealed that the election
was marred by violence and aborted the other insisted that the
election was held and winners sworn in  according to the
schedule of the Branch’s  2017  law week activities.

Who then do we believe?
A member of the Bar Association from the camp of those who said the
election did not hold gave a step by step report of what transpired
at the  Emman Akwiwu Bar Center venue of the election. In his
report he stated that trouble started when the Electoral Committee
published list of eligible voters just few minutes before voting
commenced. He stated that many lawyers who were qualified to vote
could not find their names on the list and demanded that the
election should not proceed since they would be
disenfranchised.

He also noted that some lawyers from the Branch had since 28th
June written a petition to the NBA National Body to stop the
election on the ground of what he referred to as breach of the
provision of the constitution.

He noted further that with the above issues on ground the
Electoral Committee Chairman tried to commence the election
exercise and infuriated those seeking a postponement leading to the
disruption of the exercise. He said that it took the intervention
of law enforcement agencies to restore peace insisting that no
election was held afterwards.

However another report reaching us  indicates  that
not only was election held in NBA Aba Branch yesterday but that the
election was peaceful, free and fair and successful candidates
sworn in  by a Notary Public, Sir Kelechi Ukaumunna.

The report indicates that Mr. Bob Ogu beat his opponent Mr.
Uchenna Umenne by 119 votes to 48 votes to emerge Chairman of the
branch. Others who were elected and sworn in yesterday according to
the report are C. C. Nwachukwu who worn the position of the Vice
Chairman; Chisom Kalu voted in as Secretary and  Uzoma Nwogu
voted in as Assistant Secretary.

Others are Emeka Eze Social Secretary, Faith Agwu Adediran,
Welfare Secretary, Treasure E. N. Udo Treasurer; H. I. Udensi
Publicity Secretary; Irene Ijeoma Aliche Financial Secretary;
Sylvester Ifeakor Legal Adviser and Patience Ihudia Chukwu
provost.

The next couple of days would clear the air regarding what
exactly transpired during the election.