The Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) has firmly upheld the credibility of the 2024 elections that resulted in Afam Osigwe’s election as the new president. This response comes amid complaints from two presidential candidates, Tobenna Erojikwe and Chukwuka Ikwuazom, who have questioned the process and called for an audit.
In a statement released on Sunday, the ECNBA addressed the candidates’ concerns, highlighting the role of the international firm Election Buddy, which conducted the election. The company, based in Canada, has managed over 300,000 elections worldwide, including those for multinational corporations and national elections.
The ECNBA emphasized that Election Buddy, as an independent service provider, has no affiliation with the NBA or any candidate other than providing election services. The committee also countered claims by Erojikwe regarding the voters’ list, asserting that the list was published on the ECNBA website on May 28, 2024, and that the electronic trail supports this.
The statement further clarified that the publication of the voters’ list adhered to the Data Privacy Act, ensuring confidentiality and integrity while allowing members to verify their eligibility and details securely. The list and Branch Voters’ directory remain accessible on the website until post-election reviews and audits are completed.
On the issue of alleged identity theft and double voting, the ECNBA assured that each voter received a unique, secure voting link, which was distributed via email and SMS. This system was designed to prevent multiple votes by the same individual, ensuring a fair process.
The committee also addressed concerns about vote display and updates. It explained that the results display page featured automatic refresh capabilities to reflect vote tallies accurately. The ECNBA dismissed claims of a pre-programmed voting pattern, providing an hourly table of votes cast to demonstrate that the voting pattern was consistent with member participation.
Regarding allegations of discrepancies between the voting platform and result display sites, the ECNBA confirmed that Election Buddy certified the results, which aligned with the information displayed on the ECNBA’s results page. The committee noted that high traffic on the results page from various observers did not affect the integrity of the voting process.
The ECNBA is continuing its post-election audit and will publicly release the findings in the coming weeks. The committee invited the candidates to provide specific information about any issues they observed, which will be investigated and addressed accordingly.
“Our final report will include recommendations for future improvements to enhance the election process. While we understand the disappointment of the candidates, attributing the loss to mischief or unwholesome practices is not justified without evidence,” the ECNBA concluded.
