RismadarVoice Reporters, May 29, 2026
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has issued a nationwide directive mandating all its branches to recognise virtual and hybrid participation in meetings and electoral processes, warning against the disenfranchisement of members who attend meetings online.
The directive, signed by NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, and dated May 29, 2026, was issued pursuant to Section 9(5)(a)(iii) of the NBA Constitution, 2015 (as amended in 2025), which empowers the President to coordinate the activities of all branches.
Under the new directive, the NBA stated that attendance at branch meetings through approved virtual platforms shall be considered valid for all constitutional and administrative purposes.
“No member shall be disqualified, disenfranchised, denied voting rights, or excluded from contesting or participating in any Branch election solely on the ground that the member attended meetings virtually rather than physically,” the statement read.
The association stressed that any branch that recognises virtual or hybrid meetings must accord equal recognition to members participating through such platforms, provided attendance is verifiable through official records.
The NBA further declared that any rule or practice that accepts virtual attendance for meetings but refuses to recognise it for electoral qualification is inconsistent with the principles of fairness, inclusiveness, and equal participation.
As part of efforts to modernise branch administration, the association encouraged all branches to adopt technology-driven systems, including electronic attendance records, digital membership databases, electronic dissemination of notices and reports, as well as secure technological solutions to improve transparency and participation.
The directive also ordered all NBA branches to review and amend any electoral guidelines or procedures that conflict with the new policy.
“All Branch Chairmen, Secretaries, Executive Committees, Electoral Committees, and other officers responsible for the administration of Branch affairs are required to ensure full compliance,” the directive added.
The NBA noted that complaints arising from non-compliance may be referred to appropriate organs of the association for necessary action.
