EBONYI BAR REFUSES DASAN'S CANDIDATURE, SAYS THEY ARE FULLY IN SUPPORT OF OLUMIDE AKPATA

Information reaching us is that underhand attempts yesterday evening by some executive committee members of the three branches of the NBA in Ebonyi State to adopt Adesina as a candidate for the NBA Presidency and foist him on majority of the members failed.  

The background to this is that Mr. Roy Nwaeze Umahi, who is the elder brother of the Governor of Ebonyi State, and a supporter of Dele Adesina had ordered the executive members of Abakaliki, Onueke and Afikpo branches of the NBA to summon a joint meeting of their members to discuss the possibility of adopting Adesina as  their candidate for the NBA 2020 Presidency.  A close source who is familiar with the story informed us that regardless of the political and undue influence which Roy Nwaeze Umahi has over most members of the executive committee, some of them were bold enough to advise against such move to adopt a candidate.  Regardless of their advice, a general meeting of all the three branches was held at Abakaliki on Friday 17th July, 2020.

Present at the meeting were Roy Umahi (whom many say consistently uses his relationship with the Governor of the State to exert undue influence on members of the various branches in Ebonyi); a lawyer who was introduced as the Director General of DASAN campaign team; immediate past chairman of the Abakaliki branch Mr. Festus Nweke and a large number of members of the various branches. 

A motion calling for the adoption of DASAN by the three branches was moved but not successfully carried as most members of the branches insisted that lawyers in Ebonyi should be allowed to vote according to their consciences instead of foisting a particular candidate on them, and that in any case, that they were fully in support of Olumide Akpata who had not only personally visited the State to consult with the lawyers there ahead of the Covid-19 induced lockdown, but has historically shown enormous support to lawyers from, and within, Ebonyi State prior to the electioneering session. 

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Ugamah Stephen of the Abakaliki branch said “this ill agenda which was initiated by a few supporters of DASAN to foist him on the Bar in Ebonyi State is unacceptable and undemocratic.  Our leaders cannot force their personal choices on us.  The adoption of a candidate for any office has to be done with the approval of a majority of the members of the branches.  However, it is obvious, that most of the lawyers in the State are firmly in support of Olumide Akpata and as such the attempt to adopt DASAN as the choice of Ebonyi lawyers has to fail.  We should just be allowed to vote our preferred candidates and the results will tell”

Another lawyer from the Afikpo branch who was present at the meeting said “Our leaders have the right to vote for the candidates of their choices, just as many other members are entitled to their choices too. Today’s meeting shouldn’t have held, it was abuse of our collective sensibilities and those who concocted it clearly got the message from lawyers and that’s the fact that as professionals, we should be allowed to make our decisions and choices. Olumide Akpata is the man whom the cap fits and together with him, we will bring the needed changes to our profession”. 

Mr. Petrus Elechi who until recently was the Chairman of the YLF Onueke branch and now its Publicity Secretary said “The three branches in Ebonyi State have today rejected vehemently the unscrupulous attempt to foist a candidate for the position of President of the NBA on them.  The branches resolved that they will vote individuals.    The public is advised to disregard any sponsored or financially induced report to the contrary”.

Another member of the Abakaliki branch, Mr. Ejike Oguji said “The unholy attempt by few lawyers in the State led by the immediate past chairman of the Abakaliki branch Mr. Festus Nweke and Mr. Roy Nwaze Umahi  to endorse a single candidate failed as the meeting resolved that Ebonyi State lawyers will not adopt any one candidate.  We all have our individual vote and we should use it wisely to better our profession”.