NBA Gwagwalada Branch Election 2026: Electoral Committee Publishes Final List of Candidate
The Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Gwagwalada Branch, has officially released the list of cleared candidates for the forthcoming June 2026 Branch elections.
The announcement was contained in a statement jointly issued by the Chairman of the Committee, Sir Luke Enelichi, and the Secretary, Mrs. Magdalena Laya Nankwat, following the conclusion of a comprehensive screening exercise.
According to the Committee, the screening process was rigorous, thorough, and guided strictly by the provisions of the NBA Constitution and applicable electoral guidelines. At the end of the exercise, the following members emerged as duly qualified candidates for the respective offices:
Hassan Luqman Olayiwola, Esq. — Chairman
Irene Ominike Odibaba — Vice Chairman
The Committee noted that some aspirants were disqualified due to identified discrepancies in their nomination documents. Notably, a former aspirant for the office of Chairman, Mr. Nuraddin Daud Abdulsalam, was disqualified on account of inconsistencies relating to his Bar Practice Fee (BPF) receipts for 2025.
Specifically, the Committee observed that two separate receipts were presented, bearing conflicting details as to the payee branch—one indicating Abuja Branch and the other Gwagwalada Branch. In view of this inconsistency, the Committee resolved that neither receipt could be relied upon as valid proof of membership compliance with the Gwagwalada Branch.
In the wake of his disqualification, Mr. Abdulsalam and some of his supporters have reportedly expressed strong objections to the Committee’s decision, with statements suggesting that the election may be disrupted unless his candidacy is reinstated. There have also been claims—yet to be independently verified—of possible attempts to escalate the matter to the national leadership of the Association.
However, sources within the Branch, who preferred to remain anonymous, have indicated that the Electoral Committee remains resolute in its commitment to uphold due process, transparency, and the rule of law in the conduct of the election.
Further information available to the Committee also suggests that Mr. Abdulsalam does not have a record of formal registration as a member of the NBA Gwagwalada Branch.
The Electoral Committee has therefore reaffirmed its readiness to conduct a free, fair, and credible election in June 2026, urging all members of the Branch to remain calm, law-abiding, and committed to the democratic ideals of the Association.