There Is A Cabal In NBA’ — Lateef Akangbe

Senior Advocate of Nigeria Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe has alleged that a powerful group within the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) influences the emergence of the association’s leadership, saying the disputed presidential election reflects a deeper governance problem within the body.

Speaking on Beyond the Headlines with Nifemi Oguntoye, Akangbe said his challenge to the outcome of the NBA presidential election goes beyond the declared result and seeks to end what he described as years of entrenched control over the association.

“Some people have hijacked the process for too long and they’ve become the cabal who have to bless every person that becomes president,” he said.

“There has to be a time when this has to stop.”

Akangbe accused the outgoing NBA leadership of openly backing the eventual winner during the campaign, arguing that such conduct undermined the neutrality expected of those overseeing the election.

“The outgoing president did not hide the fact that he was supporting her. He went to branches campaigning for her. He made phone calls. As an umpire, you cannot do that,” he alleged.

Responding to suggestions that his petition was motivated by the emergence of the NBA’s first directly elected female president, Akangbe dismissed any suggestion of gender bias.

“This has nothing to do with gender. It is about accountability, transparency and justice,” he said.

He also criticised the president-elect’s recent visit to President Bola Tinubu while the election remains under dispute, describing the timing as inappropriate.

“If there’s controversy over your election, I don’t think it’s the right time to do that. What message are you sending?” he asked.

Akangbe confirmed that he held two post-election conversations with the president-elect after reaching out to her, during which she sought his support for her incoming administration.

He said the discussions centred on electoral reforms and accountability but ended without agreement.

“She asked for my support, and I told her what it would take. I wasn’t convinced by our conversations,” he said.

Although the president-elect has publicly pledged to resign if an independent audit proves she benefited from electoral manipulation, Akangbe said the focus should be on ensuring such an audit actually takes place.

“She says she’s open to an audit. Let’s see whether they will open the books. That has never happened before.”

Akangbe insisted that only a transparent forensic examination of the election platform would resolve the controversy and restore confidence in the NBA’s electoral process.

“We say to government every day: accountability. How do you bring credibility without accountability? Open the books.”