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The Port Harcourt branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has been thrown into crisis following the branch’s election scheduled for Friday.

Most members of the branch stormed the NBA House in Port Harcourt and barricaded its entrance in protest, insisting that the scheduled election must be cancelled as they alleged manipulation of the voters’ list.

In the protest, aggrieved members complained that they were not satisfied with the process, prompting a heavy security deployment around the building.

Armed security personnel from the Department of State Security (DSS) and the police were seen monitoring the development.

One of the candidates for the position of Social Secretary, Chilezie Oluolu, alleged that the Electoral Committee failed to comply with the bye-law of the branch by refusing to publish the register ahead of the election.

The candidate said: “To shock everybody yesterday night around 10:45 pm to 11 pm, they published a final voters’ list. Meanwhile, we have never had any conversation as to the modalities for the election.

“The bye-law says if you’re publishing a final voters’ list, you must give 14 days before the election within which you would have spoken to members, giving them modalities. They would bring their agents to do the final briefing before we would get ready for the election.

“Yet he published it and said elections must hold this morning. And we are saying that that is not what it should be. We are not satisfied.”

The protesters, who appeared in their corporate outfits, were seen shouting and chanting: “Cancel the election now”.

A female lawyer, who spoke in confidence, said three blocs, the Integrity Group, the Progressive Group and the Proactive Group, were dragging the leadership of the NBA, Port Harcourt.

She said the Integrity Group, whose Candidate is John Ogbokiri from Rivers State, had earlier obtained a court order stopping the Electoral Committee nominated by the past leadership from conducting the election.

“They accused the electoral committee of including unqualified persons as voters to manipulate and rig the process. They went to court and obtained an order stopping the election”, she said.

She added that the National NBA was compelled to send a three-man caretaker Committee to conduct the election.

“The committee chose Friday as the date for the election. But at the venue of the poll, the integrity group and the progressive group staged a protest and a walkout saying they were not satisfied with the process because the list of voters was published a night before the election against the NBA bye-law”.

She added: “Though those of us at the Proactive Group wanted the election to go on, it was later postponed. The caretaker Committee promised to meet with the aggrieved parties and choose another date for the election”.

Also, a former Chairman of the NBA, Port Harcourt Branch, Prince Nyekwere, confirmed the development, saying, “They have not given us a new date.”

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Former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olabode George on Friday gave assurance not to dump the party despite the current crisis rocking it.

The Atona Oodua made the remark during a press conference titled, ‘The Imperative of Preserving the Sanctity, Independence and Integrity of the Nigerian Judiciary,’ in his office at Ikoyi, Lagos.

The address was an open letter to the chairman of the National Judicial Council asking the judiciary to discharge its constitutional mandate with courage over the pending PDP’s case before the court over the lingering crisis.

While answering question on the claim by FCT minister, Nyesom Wike that his faction had taken over PDP’s structure in Lagos State, the elder statesman stated, “Wike is daydreaming, he is a young man when Atiku’s saga came, they had the G-5, the integrity group.

“I’m a trained general, I don’t go to war like a cheap man, you sit down with your tactical team.

“You see what they are doing to Oyo, you don’t play a game like that. I never knew he ‘Seyi Makinde’ was going to declare for presidential ambition and linked up with APM.”

He explained that in politicking, there is need to be tactical. “It is like a tree, once you detach yourself, you are gone, you don’t go on your own. He is my son but he never told me about the ambition. At the national level, we didn’t say go and do it.”

He added that he has told members of the party in Lagos not to leave the party. “A rolling stone gathers no moss, remain faithful to your creator. He has designed every stage of your life. A house built on a faulty foundation will scatter. No Nigerian can predict the future. The greatest thing I have learnt is that the enemy within is the worst,” Bode Goerge stated.

The PDP chieftain added, “I will not wait and see the party being denigrated because the Board of Trust is the conscience of our party. We must not allow the party to die. Until I die, I will tell the truth to power.”

In the letter addressed to the Chairman of NJC, Chief Goerge said in part, “I write as a concerned citizen, a democrat, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), compelled by recent developments that raise serious questions about public confidence in the administration of justice and the role of the courts in safeguarding constitutional democracy.

“The matter before the Court was far from frivolous. It arose from an action instituted by the Chairman and members of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party. The action sought to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to comply with and give effect to subsisting judgments of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court by updating its official portal to reflect the authentic faction of the Peoples Democratic Party as led by Chief Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN recognised by the judgments, rather than continuing to recognise the Wike-led faction.

“Instead of first determining the substantive constitutional questions before it including whether INEC was under a legal obligation to comply with those subsisting judgments and amend its official records accordingly, the Court dismissed the action as a waste of judicial time and proceeded to award costs of ₦140 million against the Board of Trustees and a further ₦10 million against counsel.

“It is the greatest joke in the civilised international community today. Morally and ethically is it possible for a child to expel a father from his house whilst the father is still alive.

“The Wike faction said they have expelled permanent members of the upper echelon of the party, the custodians of the party. What a joke!
Despite this absurdity, the judge concluded in his judgement that we were wasting the time of the court.

“Our constitutional order is founded upon the hierarchy of courts and the binding authority of judicial precedent. Judgments of the Supreme Court are final and binding upon all persons and authorities throughout the Federation. Equally, decisions of the Court of Appeal and other superior courts of record are not matters of discretion to be observed or ignored at will. The rule of law demands faithful obedience to subsisting judgments until they are set aside by a court of competent jurisdiction. No administrative authority, however constituted, possesses the legal authority to disregard or delay compliance with a subsisting judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction unless and until that judgment is set aside by a superior court.

“This is therefore a defining moment in the constitutional history of our nation. It calls for courage, fidelity to the judicial oath, and an unwavering commitment to the principles of justice without fear or favour, affection or ill will. The National Judicial Council must continue to demonstrate, both in action and in resolve, that the Judiciary remains insulated from every form of external influence and committed solely to the dictates of the Constitution and the law.

“History will not judge this moment by the silence of those entrusted with the administration of justice, but by whether they rose courageously to defend the Constitution when it mattered most. The integrity of the Judiciary is not negotiable; it is the lifeblood of the Nigerian Republic.

“The Judiciary remains the last hope of the common man only so long as the common man remains convinced that justice is administered according to law, guided by the Constitution, and uninfluenced by power or expediency. The preservation of that confidence is the solemn responsibility of every judicial officer, and ultimately, of the National Judicial Council itself.

“I therefore respectfully call upon the National Judicial Council to discharge its constitutional mandate with the courage, impartiality and firmness expected of the guardian of judicial ethics and accountability. In doing so, the Council will not only preserve the honour of the Bench but also reaffirm the confidence of the Nigerian people that justice in our country remains blind to political pressure and faithful only to the Constitution and the rule of law.”

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Former Head of State and Chairman of the National Peace Committee (NPC), Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain impartial and ensure justice for all political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Abubakar gave the charge on Friday when the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), accompanied by national commissioners and members of the commission’s management team, paid him a courtesy visit at his residence in Minna, Niger State.

The visit formed part of INEC’s consultations with elder statesmen ahead of the Aug. 15 Osun State governorship election and the 2027 general elections.

The commission’s management also visited former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), at his residence in Minna.

Pledging his support for the electoral commission, Abubakar called on the commission to conduct elections that are free, fair, credible and transparent, stressing that every political party must be given equal treatment irrespective of political pressure.

He acknowledged the enormous responsibility placed on the leadership of the electoral body, describing the office of the INEC Chairman as one of the most demanding in Nigeria’s democratic system.

“Your appointment is very, very critical to our democratic setting.

“With the politicians, you need to do a lot to gain their confidence because whatever you and your commissioners do, you will stand accused of bias one way or another.

“If anybody in the political system loses an election, you become the whipping child. They will find excuses to claim that INEC has done something wrong.

“However, with the confidence we have in you, I am absolutely sure and I pray that you will do the best you can for this country,” he said.

The former Head of State urged the commission to remain focused on its constitutional mandate, ignore distractions and faithfully uphold the oath of office.

“The INEC Chairman cannot do this job alone, but the buck stops with you. I am absolutely sure that you will abide by the oath you took.

“You must do justice to all and sundry. All political parties are yours; you do not have any political party to call your own.

“So, I wish you well and advise that you close your ears and shut your eyes because no matter what you do, political parties will have a go at you and claim you have done something wrong. That is the nature of Nigerians.

“I hope and pray you take it in good faith because our democracy depends on all of you,” he added.

Abubakar disclosed that the National Peace Committee would meet in Abuja on July 29 ahead of the signing of the Peace Accord for the Osun governorship election scheduled for July 30.

According to him, the Osun election will serve as a critical test for the 2027 general elections, reaffirming the committee’s commitment to promoting peaceful, transparent and credible polls across the country.

Earlier, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, assured Nigerians that every valid vote would count in both the Osun governorship election and the 2027 general elections.

He said the visit was to honour the elder statesmen for their contributions to democracy, peacebuilding and national stability, while also seeking their continued support and prayers for the successful conduct of the elections.

Amupitan commended Abubakar’s leadership of the National Peace Committee, noting that the Peace Accord initiative had become an important platform for political actors to commit themselves to peaceful campaigns and elections.

“Your initiative and intervention, especially the Peace Accord, have not only provided political actors with a platform to commit to non-violence, but have also strengthened the sovereignty of the will of the Nigerian people.

“This prevails against disharmony and discord, for which INEC is forever grateful to you, sir.
“We also congratulate you on your recent 84th birthday anniversary and recognise your immense contributions to national unity.

“Since the transition period in 1999, you have been involved in peacebuilding not just in Nigeria but across Africa. History will be kind to you,” he said.

The INEC chairman confirmed that the Osun governorship election would hold on Aug. 15, while the Peace Accord signing would take place on July 30 in Osogbo.

He reiterated that the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for Jan. 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will follow on Feb. 6, 2027.

Amupitan, however, lamented the operational challenges confronting the commission, particularly last-minute court orders that compel it to alter election preparations.

“Just yesterday, my Legal Director informed me of a court order directing us to add another political party after we had already printed ballot papers for Osun State.

“All those ballot papers will likely have to be cancelled and reprinted. These are some of the hurdles we face.
“Despite these issues and the trust deficiency we currently face, we continue to do our best for a successful election,” he said.

Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Amupitan said the commission visited the former leaders to benefit from their wealth of experience and appreciated their assurances of continued support.

He also urged eligible Nigerians to take advantage of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), reminding prospective voters that the third phase of the exercise will close on Sunday, July 26.