Uwanna Elected NBA Lagos Branch Chairman
The Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos Branch, has just concluded its elections for the new Executive Committee for 2021-2023. The election had two positions that were contested, that of the Chairman and that of the Secretary, while eight other positions had candidates who were unopposed.
The campaigns were brief fast-paced, but quite engaging. The office of Chairman had three contestants, Amaefule Seth Obulor Stanley, Atata Anthony and Ikechukwu Uwanna. The office of Secretary had three candidates, James Olaseni Sonde, Nta Ekpiken, Shola Abiloye.
The election which held on 30 June, 2021 through electronic voting system, had a total of 889 eligible voters, while 829 representing 93.2% of the eligible voters voted for the two contested posts and some of the uncontested positions.
At the conclusion of the election, which commenced at 8am and concluded at 6pm, Ikechukwu Uwanna was
returned elected with 590 votes representing 71.8% of votes cast for the post of the Chairman. Mr. Atata Anthony polled 186 votes, representing 22.6% of the votes cast while Mr. Amaefule Seth Obulor Stanley polled 46 votes, representing 5.6% of the votes cast.
For the post of the Secretary, Nta Ekpiken polled 533 votes representing 64.7% of votes cast for the office, while Shola Abiloye polled 258 votes representing 31.3%, and James Olaseni Sonde polled 33 votes representing 4.0% of the votes for Secretary.
At the conclusion of the election, the Chairman of the NBA, Lagos Branch Election Committee, Mr. Wale Akoni, SAN announced
that Ikechukwu Uwanna was returned elected as Chairman, while Nta Ekpiken was elected as Secretary. Other offices announced by the Electoral Committee Chairman are Abiye Tam-George (Vice-Chairman), Caroline Obi (Treasurer) Anthonia Enitan Eke (Financial Secretary), Enomma Umoren (Social Secretary), Chiwendu Ugochukwu (Welfare Secretary), Elo Adhekpukoli (Publicity Secretary), Rita Uloko (Provost) and Jude Chukwuka Iwelumo (Assistant Secretary).
The Chairman of the Electoral Committee expressed delight at the peaceful and cooperative form the elections were conducted, and wished that such smoothness in the elections will witnessed at the national level.
Shortly after the announcement of the results, both Atata Anthony and Amaefule Seth Obulor Stanley called and congratulated Ikechukwu Uwanna on his victory, and promised to work with him to achieve the collective goal for the Branch.
The Chairman-elect, Ikechukwu Uwanna was the Secretary of the NBA Lagos Branch from 2017 to 2019 under the chairmanship of Mr. Chukwuka Ikwuazom, SAN. Prior to his election as the Secretary of the Branch, he was elected and served as the pioneer Secretary of the Young Lawyers' Forum. Mr. Uwanna has hinted that he intends to build on the achievements of his worthy predecessors, and work with every member of the Branch to fulfil his promise as contained in his manifesto. To achieve this feat, he has further hinted that all the candidates who participated in the election, may be coopted to form the team geared towards success.
Uwanna, who himself, is a practicing Lawyer and a Partner with Tsedaqah Attorneys, emphasised that among his goals will be to have a strengthened and enduring cordial relationship between the Bar and the Bench in Lagos State, by ensuring that these two pillars of the Judiciary interface regularly for the eventual good of everyone in need of justice in Lagos State. According to him, the legislative arm of Government is key, in ensuring the type of laws that are churned out for the people to follow. As a result, he will work towards ensuring that the Lagos State House of Assembly considers and accepts to work with Lawyers within the Branch, in the process of law making for the people of the State.
Noting that the Lagos Bar is only a Branch, but the pioneer and amongst the most vibrant Branches of the NBA, the Chairman-Elect said the Branch will continue to engage the national body of the Bar, so that the Branch benefits immensely from incentives and initiatives of the national body.
One burning issue that the Branch has been dealing with over the years, particularly before Covid-19 pandemic, has been the building of an edifice for use as the NBA Lagos Branch Bar Centre. Uwanna said he will work towards actualising the wishes of his colleagues within the requisite timeframe, while ensuring their safety in the face of the pandemic.