The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has elected Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, as its 33rd President, 34 years after the association recorded a similar milestone with its first female leader.
The announcement was made on Sunday by the Chairman of the NBA Electoral Committee (ECNBA), Chief Aham Ejelam, SAN, following the conclusion of the 2026 national officers’ election.
Badejo-Okusanya secured 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 per cent of the total votes cast, to defeat her closest rival, Lateef Akangbe, SAN, who received 7,934 votes, representing 30.39 per cent.
The third presidential candidate, Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, polled 5,855 votes, representing 22.43 per cent.
According to Ejelam, a total of 26,106 votes were recorded in the presidential contest.
With her victory, Badejo-Okusanya becomes the second woman to lead the NBA since its establishment in 1933. She will serve as president for a two-year term from 2026 to 2028.
Mr Afam Okeke was also elected General Secretary of the association after polling 8,478 votes to defeat other candidates.
Badejo-Okusanya was not present at the NBA headquarters in Abuja when the results were announced. A member of her campaign team, Aminu Gadanya, SAN, said she was unable to attend due to a flight delay.
Gadanya said the President-elect was committed to working with all stakeholders and extending a “handshake of friendship” to candidates who contested against her.
The election was conducted amid concerns over internal disputes and a technical challenge that affected the process. Outgoing NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, said the election faced attempts to disrupt it, including a cyberattack on the electoral system.
“Many went to great lengths to truncate the electoral process. They maligned the process with their utterances, but we held firm. Every effort to derail the process failed,” Osigwe said.
He urged the newly elected officers to show restraint in victory and prioritise unity within the association.
“This is a time for healing. At the end of the day, let the Bar be the winner,” he said.
Osigwe added that the ECNBA would conduct a detailed review of the challenges encountered during the election and make recommendations to strengthen confidence in future electoral processes.
He said the cyberattack highlighted the need for improved data protection measures and stronger safeguards for the NBA’s electoral infrastructure.
“The Bar must always protect its independence and eternally determine the course of its electoral process,” Osigwe said.
