How the 2025 SPIDEL Electoral Committee Was Frustrated: Kunle Edun, SAN Gives Detailed Account
Further details have emerged on the alleged frustration of the 2025 SPIDEL Electoral Committee following the release of an extensive account by its Chairman, Mr. Kunle Edun SAN, on the SPIDEL WhatsApp platform.
The account, addressed to a fellow member, Emeka Nwadioke, provides the most detailed insider narrative yet of how the Electoral Committee’s work was allegedly derailed by the caretaker leadership and other senior figures within SPIDEL.
Background: An Electoral Committee That Never Took Off
As earlier reported, the Electoral Committee chaired by Kunle Edun SAN was constituted to conduct elections for the Section, following the appointment of a caretaker committee led by Prof. Paul Ananaba SAN. The Committee issued election guidelines, received nomination forms, and carried out screening in line with the published timetable.
However, on the eve of the election, the process collapsed. Kunle Edun SAN later confirmed on the SPIDEL WhatsApp platform that he had resigned, distancing himself from the outcome announced at the AGM.
Kunle Edun SAN Speaks on Alleged Pre-Determined Outcome
In a detailed response posted on the SPIDEL platform, Kunle Edun SAN accused key actors of having pre-determined the leadership outcome before the conference and working actively to prevent the Electoral Committee from presenting its report.
He wrote, verbatim in response to Mr. Emeka Nwadioke's reportage of his role:
“LSteve Abar @Barr. Steve Abar Esq admonished, stop marketing half truths. Period.
Prof Ananaba, MOU, Okey Ohagba already had a meeting before the conference where they had decided that Uju would be the Chairman and they claimed at the meeting held at the Conference that it was an agreement reached by the spidel srakeholders including me and John. Did they tell you that only John and I debunked that false statement immediately, denying that we never participated in any secret meeting where any person was chosen.
Did they tell you that the NBA President told Prof Ananaba and MOU to apologise for not carrying the stakeholders along in choosing Uju? Did they tell you that they apologised personally and openly for hiding their secret plan from us?”
He continued:
“Did they not tell you that Prof Ananaba continued to insist that i must not present my Electoral Committee's report because they had earlier decided not to use it and according to him, spidel does not elect its leaders?”
According to Kunle Edun SAN, efforts were also made to stop the presentation of the Electoral Committee’s report through prolonged meetings and pressure on candidates:
“Did they also tell you that the midnight meeting lasted more than 2 hours because they continued to persuade John to step down and for the report not to be presented to the members of spidel?”
Claims of Direct Interference With the Committee’s Work
Kunle Edun SAN further alleged that Prof. Ananaba SAN actively prevented the publication of the list of cleared and disqualified candidates:
“Did they also tell you that Prof Ananaba was never interested in me releasing the report of the Electoral Committee, which was the reason he directed at an earlier meeting of the Transition Committee that i should not release the names of those cleared and disqualiefied because he had already known that Uju was disqualified?”
He also raised concerns about alleged surveillance of the Committee:
“Did they tell you that Ibrahim Nassarawa and two other persons were planted in the Electoral Committee to be monitoring the Committee's work? Everything we did was transparent and open.”
On disagreements over adherence to constitutional provisions, he stated:
“Did they tell you that at the meeting of the Transition Committee held last month, Prof Ananaba was displeased and was angry with me that i continued to insist that i will follow the constitutional provisions for electing spidel leaders and that i ignored his earlier directive that i should allow everybody to contest and that nobody should be disqualified? A directive my Committee rightfully ignored.”
Resignation and Call for Balanced Reporting
Kunle Edun SAN concluded by announcing his resignation from another committee and questioning media silence around it:
“You want to hear more? Go back and do proper investigation.
I await their rebuttal.
I have just resigned as Chairman of the Litigation Committee. Am I surprised that you did not report it or is it because it does not fit into their narratives?”
He added:
“If you want to be sincere and be seen to be balanced in your reportage, do well to kindly also publish my rejoinder.”
‘Peace Without Justice?’
Explaining why he decided to speak publicly despite earlier restraint, Kunle Edun SAN wrote:
“Emeka, i decided to move on because Spidel did not make me. We came to serve and we served diligently. I will not keep silent when truths are being deliberately turned upside down.
Bar leaders i respect advised that i hold my peace. I intended doing that but for all these false narratives. Let me have my peace, out of respect for the bar leaders. Then, what is peace without justice?”
Ongoing Silence From Caretaker Leadership
As of the time of reporting, neither Prof. Paul Ananaba SAN nor the caretaker committee has issued a response to these specific allegations on the SPIDEL platform. The statements remain on record as part of the unfolding controversy that many members have described as a stain on a Section of the Nigerian Bar Association that publicly champions the rule of law and justice.
