The candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the Sept. 19 Edo Governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has congratulated newly-elected Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olumide Akpata.

The Edo-born Olumide Akpata polled over 9000 votes to defeat his two rivals Babatunde Ajibade (SAN) and Dele Adesina (SAN), breaking a 30-year jinx as the first non-senior advocate to emerge as the NBA President since Charles Idehen last did in 1989.

In a congratulatory message released on Sunday by Mr. John Mayaki, the Chairman of the Edo APC Media Campaign Council, Ize-Iyamu praised Olumide Akpata as an amazing lawyer and outstanding person with the qualities to preserve the integrity of the bar and restore the reputation of the legal profession in Nigeria.

He said: “I am happy for Olumide Akpata who, over the years, has been a brilliant lawyer and outstanding human being. Now, summing a brilliant career so far, Olumide emerges the President of the Nigerian Bar Association.”

“His remarkable campaign and ability to rally the majority behind him speak volumes of his proficiency, one that, under his leadership, is bound to take the NBA to unprecedented heights.”

“The National Bar Association has indeed found a magical gem in you, and as a lawyer myself, one who followed you for a certain period of time as you practiced with utmost ethical conduct and imitable professionalism, I am confident that you will preserve the integrity and restore the almost divine reputation of the legal profession in Nigeria.”