17th July, 2012
Mr Okey Wali, a former Attorney General of Rivers state, was on Tuesday elected president of the Nigeria Bar Association at the association’s 26th Delegate Conference in Abuja.
Announcing the result, Prince Lanke Odogiyin (SAN), the Chairman of the electoral committee, said that Wali polled 688 votes to defeat his closest rival, Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN), who scored 449 votes.
Mr Omoneme Ukiri, came third with two votes.
Mr Emeka Obiagolu emerged the general secretary by polling 527 votes to beat Mr. Emmanuel Haruna and Mr O. Olowokure, who scored 322 votes and 292 votes respectively.
The result showed that Mr O. J Irabo emerged the first vice president, while Mr Francis Ekwere was returned as the third vice president.
Mr Afam Obi scored 626 votes to emerge as publicity secretary, while Mr Kelvin Ezelonu emerged as the welfare officer.
The position of the second assistant secretary went to Mr U. S. Nnaemeka, who got 507 votes to defeat his opponent.
The president-elect in his acceptance speech, said: “I shall not disappoint you all; hands must be on deck to further build on the progress of my predecessor.”
“As far as I am concerned, there are neither winners nor losers in the contests.
“The Nigerian public should emulate the peaceful, free and fair manner in which the election was conducted,’’ he said.
Mr Joseph Daudu, the outgoing president, expressed satisfaction with the support members of the association accorded his administration in the past two years.
He expressed the hope that a similar support would be extended to his successor.
NAN reports that the new executive will be sworn in on Aug. 3 when the tenure of the incumbent executive will officially end. (NAN)