The Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) has issued a strong warning to prospective candidates and their supporters against engaging in any form of campaigning for the upcoming 2024 NBA elections until officially permitted.
In a notice released on April 1, 2024, the ECNBA emphasized that any violation of the campaign guidelines set forth in the NBA Constitution will result in disqualification from the elections.
Below is the notice:
ECNBA NOTICE NO. 5
GUIDELINE (NO. B) FOR THE 2024 ELECTIONS OF NATIONAL OFFICERS OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION (NBA) AND NBA REPRESENTATIVES TO THE GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE BAR.
WARNING! WARNING!! WARNING!!!
BAN ON ANY FORM OF CAMPAIGN BY CANDIDATES/SUPPORTERS FOR THE NBA 2024 ELECTIONS.
1. Pursuant to the provisions of the NBA Constitutio1. Pursuant to the provisions of the NBA Constitution, 2nd Schedule, Part IV, Para.11,12, 16; Part V, Para.7, 8, and 12, any campaign, materials for campaign or publication of any material that may be regarded as a campaign material shall only be as authorized by the NBA Constitution, as approved by the ECNBA and utilized in the manner and only from the time the ECNBA so declares campaign open.
2. Please note that the publication, printing or distribution of any campaign material, gifts, and any form of souvenir whatsoever by a candidate or his/her supporter(s) is prohibited and any candidate who contravenes this provision shall be disqualified from being voted for (See NBA Constitution, 2nd Schedule, Part IV, Para 12 and Part V, Para 8).
3. NBA Members and persons who have been issuing online posts, and messages with subtle campaign themes and innuendos are hereby warned to desist immediately. We advise all stakeholders to note that as from the close of nomination on April 5, 2024, such members/persons (if they submit nomination forms) automatically transit to become prospective candidates by virtue of their submission of nomination forms, and thus come under the full purview of the ECNBA, and we shall not fail to disqualify any prospective candidate who flouts the rules as set out in the NBA Constitution and the guidelines issued by the ECNBA in respect of the NBA 2024 Elections.
4. Until the ECNBA declares campaigns open and set out the limited scope of such a campaign as provided in our Constitution, and relevant guidelines, no prospective candidate nor his/her supporters shall post, issue, print, publish, or display any campaign material, nor embark upon a campaign visit under any guise. Where evidence of such infraction is provided to the ECNBA, such a candidate shall be disqualified forthwith and shall not participate in the elections.
Dated this 1st Day of April 2024.
Signed: OLUSEUN ABIMBOLA SAN.
Chairman.
2. HUWAILA MUHAMMAD IBRAHIM.
Secretary.
