By John Ikani
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Yakubu Maiyaku, has been elected as the 31st President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
Maiyaku who was elected via a virtual election of the legal body
was declared winner by Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Professor Ayodele Akintunde (SAN) on Sunday.
Announcing results of the poll, Akintunde said Maiyaku polled a total of 22,342 votes while the runner up Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN) amassed 10, 842 votes.
Mr Taidi Jonathan came third in the exercise with a total of 1,373 votes.
Other national officers elected are Mrs Linda Bala – 1st Vice President, Mr Clement Ugo – 2nd Vice President, and Mrs Amanda Demechi-Asagba – 3rd Vice President.
Also elected are Mr Adesina Adegbite – General Secretary, Mr Daniel Kip Ka-Ayli – Assistant General Secretary, Ms Chinyere Obasi – National Welfare Secretary, Mr Habeeb Lawal – National Publicity Secretary, Mr Olawole Ajiboye – Assistant Publicity Secretary, and Anze-Bishop Ladidi – Treasurer.
20 lawyers were equally elected as members of the NBA General Council to represent the western, eastern, and northern zones.
Following the declaration, Maiyaku is expected to take over the leadership of the legal body from the outgoing NBA President, Olumide Akpata.
In his acceptance speech, the NBA president-elect urged all those who contested the election and lost to join his team to make the association better.
He also advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to come to understudy the technology-driven electoral system of the NBA to conduct free and fair elections in 2023.
Maikyau said his administration would be transparent, promote the rule of law, and protect human rights in the country.
Akpata, whose tenure expires on August 26, on his part, said the NBA has mandated its Public Interest Litigation Committee to approach the INEC to verify an allegation that it allowed the substitution of names of candidates that did not participate in the primary election of their political parties and take it up from there.
