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Runners-Up Reject 2024 NBA Election Results

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Nigerian Bar Association

By Adedapo Adesanya

Following the declaration of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Afam Osigwe, as the president-elect of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), his opponents in the exercise have questioned the integrity of the process and called for an audit.

The first runner-up, Mr Tobenna Erojikwe, who reportedly polled 10,998 votes as against Mr Osigwe’s 20,435 votes, said he has “reasonable and well-informed basis to believe that the electoral process and the election were not credible or satisfactory”.

In a statement dated July 21, 2024, and personally signed by him, Mr Erojikwe noted that at three different times before the polls, he had cause to write to the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) to express concerns and highlight certain breaches and irregularities surrounding the election.

“My initial complaint centred on the opaqueness of the selection process for the election service providers and the lack of information to enable us to make a fully informed assessment of the shortlisted service providers. This call led to the ECNBA carrying out a fresh bidding exercise that resulted in the selection of Election Buddy”.

“By another letter dated 4 June 2024, I raised concerns about the provisions of the guidelines for the election set out in the NBA Constitution 2015 (as amended) which the ECNBA had obeyed in disobedience including the failure to provide voting guidelines and a voters’ list within the timeframe stipulated by the NBA Constitution.

“I repeated this call in my last letter of 19 July 2024, and it was not until 4 hours before the commencement of polls that the ECNBA published the full list of eligible voters in defiance of the provisions of Paragraph 9 of Part V of Second Schedule to the NBA Constitution which provides in mandatory terms that the ECNBA shall publish the full list of voters at least 45 (forty-five) clear days before the date of the election,” he noted.

Mr Erojikwe said if the breaches and irregularities were restricted to the process leading up to the elections, and the election was conducted in a credible manner, it might have been easier to overlook them.

He detailed about five areas where according to him the conduct of the election fell far short of expected technical standards and the spirit/intendment of the NBA Constitution including issues with live viewing of the election results, tallying errors, technicalities with a novel platform, data manipulation, and an extension in voting deadline.”

“The foregoing and more have demonstrated that the fears that I expressed in the build-up to the elections were not unfounded and the election process might have been manipulated to achieve a predetermined outcome,” he added.

Mr Erojikwe said for the above reasons, he is unable to accept the election result announced by the ECNBA and instead seeks an official audit of the election result in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 8(c), Part 2, Second Schedule of the NBA Constitution.

He said this step has become necessary to ensure full faith and confidence in the electoral process within the NBA.

Similarly, Mr Chukwuka Ikwuazom (SAN), who was said to have polled 9,018 votes to emerge as the second runner-up, has requested access to critical information and documents related to the elections.

In a letter he signed and addressed to ECNBA chairman, Mr Oluseun Abimbola (SAN), Mr Ikwuazom said his request is “prompted by several concerning anomalies and irregularities observed during the electoral process”.

Mr Ikwuazom who had sensationally pulled out of the race during the elections, said he and his team observed four anomalies namely; identity theft of voters & potential double voting, Discrepancies in Vote Display and Update, Suspicious Vote Increase Patterns and Discrepancies in Vote Patterns.

He, therefore, made a formal request to be provided within 48 hours with full access to the server and application log files used during the election period, complete database records, including voter information and voting transactions among other information.

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

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Pastor Ogbueli’s Abuja Night of Glory Holds Today

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Abuja Night of Glory

By Blaise Udunze

Momentum is gathering for the Abuja Night of Glory taking place today, Friday, December 5, 2025, at the main bowl of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

The crusade is being hosted by Dominion City Church headed by Pastor David Ogbueli and it starts by 7pm.

The all-night programme will feature dynamic worship leaders like Nathanial Bassey, Dunsin Oyekan, Theophilus Sunday, Chioma Jesus, Kaestrings, Sunmisola Agbebi Okeleye, Minister GUC, Ebuka Songs, Anthony Kani, and DC Angels.

Reputed as a teacher of righteousness and anointed minister of the gospel, evidenced by the miracles that have trailed his ministry, and one who champions the cause of the poor through empowerment initiatives, Dr. David Ogbueli will be joined by renowned ministers from within and outside Nigeria, including Evangelist Andres Bisonni, Dr. Charles Ndifon, Evangelist Dan Scott, Apostle Ikechukwu Nnajiofor, and several others.

Night of Glory has, in previous editions held across Nigeria’s cities, recorded remarkable results, such as immediate healings and freedom from chronic ailments, recovery of vision and movement after many years of paralysis, along with liberation from dependencies and emotional distress. Numerous participants have also shared testimonies of breakthroughs and big personal changes after the experience. Organisers state that this year’s event, in Abuja, is anticipated to exceed previous editions.

The event is intended for all individuals trusting God for divine intervention in any area of life.

Understanding the role of faith in the destiny of individuals and nations, a dedicated prayer session for Nigeria will take place during the crusade to tackle some of the current challenges being faced in the country and also to uplift he leaders and institutions before God.

Attendance is free, and registration is encouraged via the QR codes on event banners. Organisers expect a massive turnout as worshippers travel from across the country for what is anticipated to be a transformative encounter.

Adequate security and free transportation have been put in place ALL over the city of Abuja, while those outside Abuja are expected to join online.

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Rivers Speaker, 15 Other Lawmakers Leave PDP for APC

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rivers speaker Martin Amaewhule defect

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr Martin Amaewhule, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

At the plenary on Friday, Mr Amaewhule joined the ruling party from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), along with 15 other members of the state parliament.

This development comes some months after they had earlier declared their support for the APC in the wake of a crisis with the state governor, Mr Sim Fubura.

The lawmakers had an issue with Mr Fubura, which led to a state of emergency declared on the oil-rich state by President Bola Tinubu in March 2025.

This embargo was only lift in September 2025 after the duration of the six-month emergency rule in the state.

A few days ago, members of the Rivers Assembly passed a vote of confidence on President Tinubu, backing him to remain in office till 2031, when he would have spent eight years in office if re-elected in 2027.

Announcing their defection today, the lawmakers pinned their decision on the crisis rocking the PDP at the national level.

It is not certain if their political godfather, Mr Nyesom Wike, who is the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), will join them in APC.

Mr Wike, who governed Rivers State from 2015 to 2023, has been accused of instigating the crisis in the opposition PDP. He was expelled from the party last month at a national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State.

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Nigeria Risks Brain Drain in Energy Sector—PENGASSAN

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energy sector

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has warned that Nigeria risks massive brain drain in the oil and gas sector due to poor remuneration.

The president of PENGASSAN, Mr Festus Osifo, said at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the union on Thursday in Abuja that the industry was facing challenges arising from Naira devaluation and inflation, noting that, oil and gas skills remained globally competitive.

Painting an example, he said, “A drilling engineer in Nigeria does the same job as one in the US or Abu Dhabi,” noting that the union must take steps to bridge the wage gap to prevent members from leaving the country for better opportunities abroad.

“If we don’t act, the brain drain seen in other sectors will be child’s play,” he said.

According to him, PENGASSAN has recorded significant gains through collective bargaining across oil and gas branches.

“We signed numerous agreements across government agencies, IOCs, service and marketing sectors,” he said.

He said the agreements brought relief to members facing rising costs of living, adding that, the association’s duty is to protect members’ jobs and enhance their pay.

Mr Osifo urged companies delaying salary reviews and those foot-dragging as a result of the prevailing economic realities, to do the needful.

He said the industry employed some of the nation’s best talents, making competitive pay critical to retaining skilled workers.

“This industry recruits the best. Companies must provide the best conditions,” he said.

On insecurity, Mr Osifo urged government to take decisive action against terrorism and kidnappings across the country.

“We are tired of condemnations. government must expose sponsors and protect citizens,” he said.

He urged government at all levels to prioritise tackling insecurity through better funding and equipment for security agencies.

Mr Osifo said PENGASSAN supported calls for state police to improve local security response, adding that decentralising policing will protect citizens better than rhetoric.

He also said economic indicators meant little, if food prices remained high and farmers could not return to farms due to insecurity.

“Nigerians want to see food on the table, not macroeconomic figures,” he said, urging the government to coordinate fiscal and monetary policies to ensure economic gains reach households.

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