By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Human rights lawyer and public affairs analyst, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has alleged that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) abducted the Managing Director of the service provider handling the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) electronic voting process in an attempt to frustrate the ongoing 2026 NBA national elections.
In a post on his social media account on Thursday, Odinkalu claimed that the service provider’s Managing Director was intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, while travelling to Abuja.
According to him, the operatives allegedly confiscated the official’s laptop and mobile phones and have continued to hold him in custody.
Odinkalu further alleged that the action was carried out at the instigation of individuals sympathetic to a particular candidate in the NBA election, although he did not identify the candidate.
He described the development as contradictory, noting that the DSS had reportedly informed the NBA in writing that it would be present only to observe the voting process and ballot collation.
“It is difficult to see how they can both disable ballot administration and observe balloting at the same time,” he stated.
The senior lawyer alleged that the objective of the operation was to derail the electoral process and achieve through extra-legal means what the courts had allegedly refused to permit.
He also criticised what he described as attempts to politicise the NBA election, alleging that those employing state institutions to influence the process were simultaneously accusing rival candidates of having political affiliations.
As of the time of filing this report, the Department of State Services had not responded publicly to the allegations, while the Nigerian Bar Association had yet to issue an official statement on the claims.
The allegations could not be independently verified.
