The Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) has firmly defended the credibility of the 2024 polls that elected Afam Osigwe as its new president. This response came amid complaints from the two other presidential candidates in the July 20 elections. The first runner-up, Tobenna Erojikwe, and the second runner-up, Chukwuka Ikwuazom, had raised concerns about the election’s integrity and called for an audit.
In a detailed letter addressed to both candidates and signed by the ECNBA Chairman, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Oluseun Abimbola, and Secretary Huwaila Muhammad, the electoral body emphasized that the election was conducted using the Election Voting Platform (Election Buddy).
This international company, based in Canada, has managed over 300,000 elections globally, including those for the NBA, multinational corporations, political party primaries, and national elections. The ECNBA reiterated that Election Buddy has no affiliations with the NBA or any candidate, serving purely as a service provider.
The ECNBA highlighted its adherence to constitutional requirements. Addressing Erojikwe’s claims on social media that the voters’ list was not published, the committee referenced the electronic trail of notices on the ECNBA website, showing that this claim was unfounded.
The ECNBA noted that the voters’ list was published in compliance with the Data Privacy Act, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of personal data. The list allowed members to verify their eligibility and confirm their details to receive voting codes by inserting their unique SCN to search for their names, preventing unauthorized access.
The electoral body further detailed that the voters’ list and the Branch Voters’ directory remain available on its website until post-election reviews and audits are completed and submitted to the National Executive Council (NEC).
The committee stated that misinformation by any candidate suggesting the voters’ list was not published until hours before the election commencement is incorrect, emphasizing that the list was available since May 28, 2024, allowing members ample time to verify their details.
Regarding allegations of identity theft and double voting, the ECNBA assured that each voter received a unique voting link via email and SMS, ensuring that each voter could only vote once. This method was designed to maintain a fair and transparent voting process.
The committee invited candidates to provide specific details about any observed discrepancies to enable thorough investigation and publication of findings.
On the matter of vote display and updates, the ECNBA clarified that the results display page had an automatic refresh feature, updating within minutes after vote compilation and sorting. The committee assured that there was no malicious intent in the periodic display or final tally.
The votes attributed to all candidates accurately reflected the ballots cast throughout the election period. The committee included an hourly table of votes cast, demonstrating that the voting pattern did not follow a steady increase, disproving claims of pre-programming.
The ECNBA specifically addressed Ikuwazom’s assertion that he was placed third throughout the election, stating it was incorrect. The committee noted that Ikuwazom was initially in second place until Erojikwe’s tally increased. Th
ECNBA reiterated its commitment to maintaining the election process’s integrity and accuracy, rejecting unfounded allegations of pre-programmed voting results.
Addressing concerns about voting figures and patterns, the ECNBA maintained that claims by Ikuwazom’s supporters of inconsistencies lacked merit.
The committee clarified that individual voter choices are private and confidential, and no contestant can know with certainty how voters cast their ballots. The committee emphasized that assurances from supporters do not provide a scientific basis for any claims about voting figures.
On allegations that the actual voting and live results were displayed on different platforms, the ECNBA explained that the certification of results by Election Buddy immediately after the election negates this claim.
The displayed results were consistent with the certified results from Election Buddy. The ECNBA highlighted the need for a robust results display page to handle high traffic from observers and interested parties worldwide, a lesson learned from previous NBA elections.
Regarding reports of some voters receiving emails acknowledging votes cast by others, the ECNBA reiterated the unique voting link procedure. The committee requested SCN numbers of those affected to investigate the claims.
On claims of voting continuing past the closing time, the ECNBA clarified that it was the compilation of results that extended past midnight, ensuring a thorough ballot-by-ballot and vote-by-vote verification process.
The ECNBA has escalated the candidates’ requests for electronic voting access and information to its service provider, Election Buddy, and is conducting its post-election audit.
The committee plans to publish its audit report, including recommendations for future elections, in the coming weeks. The ECNBA concluded by acknowledging the candidates’ disappointment but urged against attributing election losses to unfounded allegations of misconduct.
