Update on Proposed Debate for NBA Candidates
18th July 2020
Dear Colleagues,
RE: YOUNG LAWYERS’ FORUM (“YLF”) DEBATE FOR CANDIDATES FOR THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION (“NBA”)
You will recall that on 10 July 2020, the Young Lawyers Forum (“YLF”) of the Nigerian Bar Association (“NBA”) made public its intention to host the first ever NBA Presidential Debate (the “Debate”), to elicit the views of the respected candidates for the esteemed office of the President of the NBA (“OPNBA”).
The motivation behind the debate was and remains our belief that Young Lawyers constitute a large proportion of the prospective voters at the NBA Elections and their concerns have invariably dominated the conversations around the elections. As such, the YLF decided upon hosting a live TV debate with feedback via social media to provide an opportunity for a robust conversation with the candidates for the OPNBA.
As you are aware, the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (“ECNBA”) recently issued a statement to the effect that “candidates, their supporters, as well as NBA Branches, are advised to take down all help desks, debate platforms (virtual or physical), and or voting desks set up for the purpose of the elections and which are capable of compromising the integrity of the process.”
Further to the above, the YLF has come to a decision to put the Great Debate earlier scheduled for 6:15pm today, July 18, 2020 on hold. We have communicated the above decision to the NBA Presidential Candidates and our partners, Plus TV Africa.
We will continue to engage the ECNBA and other stakeholders for the benefit of Young Lawyers and the Bar at large. Yours faithfully,
FOR: NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION YOUNG LAWYERS’ FORUM
Signed:
Tobi Adebowale
Chairman
