The Nigerian Bar Association Electoral Committee has said it will disqualify any of the aspirants to electoral offices in the association who is found to have solicited or received financial aid from the government or any organisation.

It also said sponsorship of any broadcast either in print or electronic form extolling an aspirant’s virtue or vilifying an opponent would attract disqualification.

The NBA Electoral Committee stated this, among other things, in the election guidelines endorsed by its chairman and secretary, Messrs Kenneth Mozia (SAN) and Oluwaseun Ajoba respectively.

“Or if he/she sponsors or is associated with sponsoring a newspaper or magazine article or any electronic broadcast, vilifying other candidates or extolling a candidate’s virtues,” the committee warned.

The warning is believed to be parts of the moves by the association to forestall monetary inducement of voters which was a prominent feature of the NBA election two years ago.

Meanwhile, a former president of the association, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), has written to the current NBA President, Mr. Augustine Alegeh (SAN), on the need to ensure a free and fair election.

Olanipekun, in his letter to Alegeh dated July 11, 2016, told him that “the most challenging phase of any NBA President’s tenure is the election/handing over period.”

He urged him to ensure that there was a level-playing ground for all the aspirants such that the election would not be trailed with controversy.

Olanipekun said, “I speak from experience as one of your predecessors in office. Therefore, permit me, once again, to counsel that on no account should any candidate, member or branch be allowed to deride the outcome of the forthcoming election, particularly on the grounds that it was/is rigged or manipulated. It can be very embarrassing to an association of legal practitioners.”

Culled from PUNCH.NG