PRESENT NBA ELECTORAL PROCESS FAULTY - UBANI

Monday Onyekachi Ubani, Barrister-at-law, is the immediate past 2^nd Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA. On Friday 31st August, 2018 he and other members of the National Exco bowed out of office.

Below is a summary of his stewardship and recommendations on how to reposition the body as the flagship of the Nigerian legal community.

On 31st of August, 2018 I bowed out of office as the 2nd Vice President of Nigerian Bar Association successfully to the glory of the Almighty. To me, it was a big learning curve. I made new friends, built new relationships across the length and breadth of Nigeria. My supervisory responsibility over the Northern Nigeria opened my eyes to the very fact that Nigerians may have their differences in culture and religion but are really unique people and those differences are more in exaggeration than in reality. We, as Nigerians, are really the same people! The national officers with whom I served the body have become a one big family, a relationship I hope very much will last forever.

The NBA with over 120 branches all over the country is a complex institution that requires a lot of reforms to run it efficiently. Presently, the constitution of NBA has made it the President and the General Secretary's Affairs, and where you have these two persons as wrong individuals, the body will be in a total mess. Having observed these lapses, I intend to push for a total reform especially with the new opportunity now given to the membership to look into the constitution in a comprehensive manner.

The first intervention every member should be interested in, in order to save the Association, is the Electoral Process. The present procedure is faulty and susceptible to manipulations and fraud.

2016 and 2018 elections have produced multiple cases in court and no matter how we want to rationalize it or vilify those who have gone to court to seek redress the present electoral system is faulty and needs urgent review and redress from the leadership and membership. Our constitution prescribes E-Voting and not I-Voting. There is a difference between Electronic Voting and Internet Voting which is the one we have employed for two times with its attendant hitches and terrible glitches.

Nevertheless, in spite of all these shortcomings, I thank God the Almighty for all the travel mercies and protection for all the two years I was in office and we pray that the new leadership will take the Bar to another higher and better  level. My appreciation goes to family members, especially my wife, friends, clients, workers, church members and well wishers, including fans and admirers whose prayers and goodwill messages were in abundance during my tenure.

I cherish those daily and monthly prayers through texts and social media. I love you all and promise to be more available for greater service to you, the nation and God! I appreciate you all.

-Monday Onyekachi Ubani, Esq (MOU)

Legal Practitioner.