The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has invited international and domestic election observers to monitor its forthcoming national officers’ election as the association moves to strengthen confidence in the credibility of the exercise amid lingering controversies surrounding the poll.

The election is scheduled to be conducted electronically on July 20.

The invitation was announced in a statement issued on Friday by the NBA President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), who disclosed that the European Union (EU), the United States Embassy, the British High Commission, Yiaga Africa, the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), as well as other diplomatic missions, election observation organisations and civil society groups, had been invited to observe the process.

According to Osigwe, accredited observers will monitor the election from the Central Election Control Room located at the NBA National Secretariat in Abuja, where election management, technical operations, results collation and observer accreditation will be coordinated.

He explained that observers would have full access to monitor the voting process, engage with officials of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) and witness the declaration of results.

The NBA said the decision to invite independent observers reflects its commitment to conducting a transparent, credible, free and fair election in line with international best practices.

Osigwe noted that the presence of respected local and international observers would further reinforce public confidence in the integrity of the electoral process.

The development comes amid ongoing litigation and allegations surrounding the conduct of the election, as well as recent attempts to halt the exercise.

The Association said it had rejected what it described as external efforts to interfere in its electoral process through attempts to secure directives aimed at postponing the election and imposing conditions not recognised under the NBA Constitution.

Describing the situation as an unprecedented attempt at external interference, the association maintained that the election would proceed in accordance with the provisions of its Constitution and the ECNBA Guidelines.

The controversy surrounding the 2026 NBA election began months ago following the aborted election of the association’s Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL).

Members of Egbe Amofin O’odua had accused NBA President Afam Osigwe of influencing the SPIDEL election for partisan reasons ahead of the national poll and called for the dissolution of the ECNBA. Osigwe denied the allegations.

The dispute later escalated to the Oyo State High Court, where aspects of the election, including the composition of the ECNBA and elements of the electoral process, were challenged. The court subsequently granted interim orders affecting preparations for the election, with appeals still pending.

In a bid to resolve the impasse, the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, convened a stakeholders’ meeting on June 11 involving NBA leaders, former presidents and parties to the dispute, leading to the establishment of a subcommittee to facilitate discussions.

Fresh controversy emerged earlier this month after a document purportedly containing the committee’s recommendations surfaced online. The document reportedly proposed postponing the election, dissolving the ECNBA, appointing a caretaker committee, replacing the election service provider, introducing National Identification Number (NIN) verification for voters and reviewing aspects of the NBA Constitution.

The NBA distanced itself from the document, insisting that only its National Executive Council (NEC) possesses the constitutional authority to postpone the election.

Osigwe also maintained that the Legal Practitioners Act does not empower the Attorney General of the Federation to direct the affairs of the association, adding that the subcommittee was established solely to facilitate discussions aimed at resolving pending court cases.

The controversy was further heightened by allegations that the NBA president had used his office to support a preferred presidential candidate. Osigwe denied the claims, insisting that he had remained impartial throughout the process and that the ECNBA was carrying out its constitutional responsibilities independently.

Despite the disputes, the NBA said preparations for the election have reached an advanced stage.

The ECNBA has screened aspirants, resolved appeals arising from the screening exercise, cleared 35 candidates for various national offices, published the final list of contestants and released the voters’ register while continuing voter education ahead of the exercise.

The presidential contest has drawn significant attention, with three Senior Advocates of Nigeria who are Olumuyiwa Akinboro, Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe and Oyinkansola Badejo-Okunsanya vying to succeed Afam Osigwe as NBA president.

The election will be conducted electronically, enabling eligible lawyers within Nigeria and in the diaspora to cast their votes remotely after meeting the constitutional requirements.