Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, has been elected the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), defeating two fellow Senior Advocates of Nigeria in the association’s 2026 national election.
The Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), Aham Ejelam, SAN, announced the results on Sunday at the NBA National Secretariat in Abuja after the election, which experienced delays caused by technical issues and a cyberattack.
According to Ejelam, Badejo-Okusanya secured 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 per cent of the total votes cast, ahead of her closest rival, Lateef Akangbe, SAN, who polled 7,934 votes, representing 30.39 per cent.
The third contender, Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, received 5,855 votes, accounting for 22.43 per cent of the votes.
Ejelam disclosed that a total of 26,106 votes were cast during the election.
Badejo-Okusanya will serve a two-year term as NBA president from 2026 to 2028.
Her emergence also makes her the second woman to lead the association, following Priscilla Kuye, who served as NBA President between 1991 and 1992.
Other officials elected into the NBA national executive include Oghenero Okoro as First Vice-President with 11,024 votes, Afam Okeke as General Secretary with 8,478 votes, Aghogho Gladys as Assistant General Secretary with 14,312 votes, and Chinelo Audrey Ofoegbunam as 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 she was delayed by a flight and remained committed to extending a “handshake of friendship” to all aggrieved candidates in the interest of unity.
Speaking after the announcement of the results, the outgoing NBA President, Afam Osigwe, SAN, revealed that the election overcame several attempts to disrupt the process, including a cyberattack that compelled the electoral committee to rebuild and migrate 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 officials to embrace inclusiveness and appealed to those who lost the election 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 further stated:
“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 disclosed that the Electoral Committee would carry out a comprehensive review of the 2026 election, particularly the technical and security challenges encountered, to strengthen future electoral processes, improve cybersecurity, and enhance confidence in the NBA’s electoral system.
