Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, has been elected the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), defeating two other senior lawyers in the association’s 2026 national officers’ election.
The Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), Aham Ejelam, SAN, announced the outcome on Sunday at the NBA National Secretariat in Abuja after the election concluded following delays caused by technical issues and a cyberattack.
Ejelam disclosed that Badejo-Okusanya secured 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 per cent of the total ballots cast, ahead of her closest rival, Lateef Akangbe, SAN, who received 7,934 votes, amounting to 30.39 per cent.
The third contender, Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, garnered 5,855 votes, representing 22.43 per cent of the votes.
According to the ECNBA chairman, 26,106 votes were cast in the election.
Badejo-Okusanya will serve a two-year term as NBA president from 2026 to 2028. Her election also makes her only the second woman to lead the association, following Priscilla Kuye, who served as NBA president between 1991 and 1992.
Other officials elected into national offices include Oghenero Okoro, who won the position of First Vice-President with 11,024 votes; Afam Okeke, elected General Secretary with 8,478 votes; Aghogho Gladys, who emerged Assistant General Secretary with 14,312 votes; and Chinelo Audrey Ofoegbunam, who secured the office of Welfare Secretary with 14,911 votes.
Badejo-Okusanya was not present when the results were declared. Explaining her absence, a member of her campaign team, Aminu Gadanya, SAN, said her flight was delayed. He added that the president-elect was committed to extending a “handshake of friendship” to all aggrieved candidates in the interest of unity.
Addressing members after the announcement of the results, outgoing NBA President Afam Osigwe, SAN, said the election overcame several attempts to disrupt the process, including a cyberattack that compelled the electoral committee to rebuild and transfer its ICT infrastructure to a more secure server.
“Our colleagues planned to truncate the election, but we stood firm. Every effort to derail this process failed. This is a trying time for the Bar. In the build-up to this election, many went to great lengths to rubbish the association,” he said.
Osigwe urged the newly elected officers to remain gracious in victory while encouraging those who lost to support the incoming leadership.
“To those who won, be magnanimous in victory; for those who lost, there is always another day. The cyberattack shows that we must do more in data protection. Let us collectively do things in an acceptable manner,” Osigwe said.
He added, “Someday, the story will be told of how this election was almost sabotaged.
“We must be able to promote the rule of law, and the NBA, made up of lawyers, should be able to determine the course of its electoral process. Where we made mistakes, I believe my successor will correct them.
“Winners should extend the hand of fellowship to those who lost and have a united front to move the Bar forward.
“The unity of the Bar cannot and should never be negotiated. As I now bow out, I wish the new EXCO all the very best in office.
“May we never see the day when those who lead us will be elected by people other than lawyers.”
Osigwe also revealed that the Electoral Committee would carry out a thorough assessment of the electoral process, focusing on the challenges encountered during the exercise. He said the review is aimed at enhancing confidence in future NBA elections while strengthening the association’s cybersecurity and the integrity of its electoral system.