The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has suspended its 2026 presidential election after a cyberattack targeted its electronic voting platform just hours before the exercise was scheduled to begin.
Voting was expected to commence at 12:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 18, but the electoral committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, announced that the platform came under what it described as a “deliberate, coordinated and sustained cyberattack” aimed at disrupting the electoral process.
In a statement issued in the early hours of Saturday, the committee said the attack was intended to sabotage the association’s national election by compromising the technical infrastructure supporting the online voting system.
The electoral committee disclosed that cybersecurity experts, working alongside the election voting service provider, immediately activated emergency response protocols to contain the breach and safeguard the integrity of the platform.
According to the committee, comprehensive security checks are ongoing, and voting will commence immediately after the system is fully restored and certified secure.
The committee clarified that no voting had taken place before the attack and that no ballots were cast through the compromised platform.
It urged members of the association to remain calm and await official communication, warning lawyers against using unofficial websites or links that could be connected to the attempted cyber interference.
Despite the disruption, the electoral committee said the election process remains under its supervision, with candidates, their agents and accredited observers present at the central monitoring centre in Abuja to observe developments.
The election features three senior advocates of Nigeria vying for the NBA presidency: Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe and Oyinkansola Badejo-Okunsanya.
The suspension comes after months of controversy surrounding the NBA election, including court cases challenging the electoral process, disagreements over zoning arrangements, allegations of bias against the association’s leadership and claims of external interference.
Earlier this year, an Oyo State High Court temporarily restrained the NBA from conducting the election following a suit filed by four lawyers.
However, the Court of Appeal in Ibadan, later overturned the order, ruling that the lower court lacked jurisdiction, thereby clearing the way for the poll.
The election also generated controversy over calls for NBA President Afam Osigwe to resign following allegations by some presidential candidates that he failed to maintain neutrality.
Osigwe denied the claims and insisted that only the NBA’s National Executive Council has the constitutional authority to alter the election timetable.
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Before the cyberattack, the electoral committee had announced that 82,213 lawyers from 139 NBA branches were eligible to vote.
It also disclosed that the Department of State Services (DSS), the police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) would monitor the election from a central control room in Abuja.
The ECNBA reiterated its commitment to conducting a transparent, credible and secure election and promised to keep members informed as efforts continue to restore the voting platform.
