Voting in the national election of the Nigerian Bar Association has commenced as the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA) explained reasons for the delay.
The Eagle Online had earlier reported that the election, which was to have commenced at midnight on Saturday, suffered a delay.
A statement by the ECNBA offered reasons for the delay while announcing the commencement of voting.
It said the 2026 NBA National Elections were delayed because of a “Coordinated Cyberattack on E-Voting Platform”.
A memo addressed to all candidates, eligible voters, agents, and observers in the early hours of Saturday said: “The Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) sincerely apologises to all candidates, eligible voters, agents, consultants, and observers for the delay in the commencement of voting for the 2026 NBA National Elections at the scheduled time of 12:00 AM WAT.
“The Committee is compelled to report that the ECNBA e-voting platform has been subjected to a deliberate, coordinated, and sustained cyberattack by external actors, clearly intended to disrupt, sabotage, and undermine the integrity of the 2026 NBA National Electoral process.
“This attack represents a direct and calculated assault on the ECNBA’s technical infrastructure.
“The ECNBA’s IT cybersecurity team, in conjunction with the Election Voting Service Provider (EVSP), has activated all available security protocols and countermeasures and is engaged in active efforts to repel the attack, neutralise the threat, and restore the integrity and availability of the platform.
“The system is expected to be fully restored and voting will commence immediately upon restoration.”
The memo advised all those copied to note that “voting has not yet commenced.
“No votes are being accepted at this time.
“The portal will reopen as soon as the system is secured and restored.
“Members should await a further official communication before attempting to access the portal.
“The only official voting portal is www.ecnbaovs.org.ng.
“Members are strongly warned to disregard any other link, platform, or communication purporting to offer an alternative voting channel, as such may be instruments of the same malicious campaign currently targeting the election.
“All candidates, agents, and observers are present and accounted for at the designated monitoring centre.
“The electoral process continues under full Committee supervision.
“Further updates will be communicated promptly as they become available through official ECNBA channels.
“The Committee sincerely appreciates the patience and understanding of all candidates, agents, consultants, observers, and eligible voters and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to delivering a free, fair, transparent, and credible election, notwithstanding this criminal interference.”
The memo was signed by the Chairman of ECNBA 2026, Aham Ejelam (SAN), and Secretary, Ibrahim Aliyu Nassarawa.
A few hours after the memo, The Eagle Online was informed that voting had started.
