Chief Arthur Obi-Okafor SAN has been endorsed as the Eastern Bar Forum’s Presidential candidate in the NBA National election scheduled to hold in a few months.
His endorsement was a fall out of the Forum’s first quarterly meeting which held today the 3rd day of February, 2018 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Also endorsed are, Stanley Chidi IMO, 1st Vice President; Sabastine Anya, Welfare Secretary. Others are Elias Emeka Anosike, Financial Secretary and Uju Mary Chukwuma-Okafor, Treasurer.
According to report, Arthur Obi and the others emerged after the screening exercise conducted by the Forum’s Screening Committee in compliance with Article 11 of its Constitution. This was subsequently approved by the General Meeting of the EBF.
Chief Arthur Obi was preferred above Prof. Ernest Ojukwu SAN, Mr. Paul Usoro SAN and Mazi Afam Osigwe who are all members of the EBF and despite the fact that the NBA has Zoned the Presidency to the East. The other three candidates were visibly absent from the meeting, an indication that all is not well with the members of the Forum. There was also report of boycotts and walk-outs during the process of Chief Obi’s endorsement.
It would be recalled that prior to the meeting many had expressed concern over the relevance of the Forum adopting a consensus candidate with the NBA Zoning already in place. Many have also suggested that anointing a candidate may sway the minds of voters who may try to vote out of emotions and pity.
Whichever way this goes, this indeed are interesting times for members of the Nigerian Bar Association.
The EBF is expected to issue a formal communique on its quarterly meeting.
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