The Zoning Arrangement in the Nigerian Bar Association and the Hypocrisy of Olumide Akpata
By Saintmoses Eromosele
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) ensures balanced representation through a structured zoning arrangement for its presidential elections. This zoning divides the country into three primary regions: the Northern Zone, the Western Zone, and the Eastern Zone. Each zone is given an opportunity to produce the president in a rotational manner, fostering inclusiveness and regional balance.
The Northern Zone comprises states in the North-East, North-West, and North-Central zones of Nigeria. The Western Zone comprises of states in the South-West and South-South zones of Nigeria. The Eastern Zone comprises states in the South-East zone of Nigeria.
This rotational policy prevents leadership monopolization by any single region and promotes unity within the NBA.
Olumide Akpata’s election in 2020, zoned to the Western Zone, exemplifies the zoning arrangement. Akpata, from Edo State in the South-South, benefited from this system, becoming the first non-Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) to win in decades. His election highlights the effectiveness of the zoning policy in broadening leadership opportunities.
The NBA Constitution and Byelaws, particularly Article 8, outline the rotational presidency to ensure no single zone dominates leadership roles.
It is hypocritical, and dubious, for Akpata, who benefited from the NBA’s zoning arrangement, to dismiss zoning’s importance in the Edo State governorship election. As he seeks to become governor, it is essential to note that majority Edo citizens support the idea that power should rotate to Edo Central for 2024 that explains why the major parties nominated Edo South candidates, aligning with principles of fairness and promoting state harmony. Even though the hitherto charismatic leader of the All Progressives Congress and former Governor of Edo State, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, desperately wanted to jettison this principle by supporting someone outside Edo Central, for that effeontery, his own people of Edo North including the good people of Edo South fiercely resisted him, mortally injuring his political image to a point where he is now reduced to almost a ethnic leader in Edo State.
Edo State voters are highly sophisticated, and genrally just and fair. We should consider voting for a candidate from Edo Central in this forthcoming election to ensure balanced and inclusive governance, rejecting Akpata’s inconsistent stance on zoning. This will uphold justice and foster unity within Edo State. And when it comes to zoning to Edo Central, it also implies that we must seek for the best among the candidates, just just anyone. We must interrogate them all and elect the one who we can all be proud to call Edo State Governor.
Saintmoses Eromosele, Director of Media Strategy, writes from his Cassava farm in Ewu
