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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Badejo-Okusanya Elected Nigerian Bar Association President Amidst Election Challenges

From ThisDay · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya has been elected the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), winning 47.18% of the votes.
  • She defeated two other Senior Advocates and will serve a two-year term starting in 2026, becoming the second woman to hold the position.
  • The election faced delays due to technical issues and a cyberattack, but the Electoral Committee ensured its completion.

Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has been elected the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). She secured 12,317 votes, or 47.18% of the total, defeating rivals Lateef Akangbe, SAN, and Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN. Badejo-Okusanya will lead the association for a two-year term from 2026 to 2028.

the President -elect remained committed to promoting unity within the Bar, by extending a “handshake of friendship” to all aggrieved candidates following the keenly contested election.

— Aminu Gadanya, SANA member of Badejo-Okusanya’s campaign team, Gadanya commented on the President-elect's commitment to unity post-election.

Her victory marks a historic moment, as she is only the second woman to hold the NBA presidency, following Dame Priscilla Kuye's term from 1991 to 1992. Other elected officials include Oghenero Okoro as First Vice-President, Afam Okeke as General Secretary, Aghogho Gladys as Assistant General Secretary, and Chinelo Audrey Ofoegbunam as Welfare Secretary.

the election survived determined attempts to derail the process, including a cyberattack that compelled the ECNBA to rebuild and migrate its ICT infrastructure to a more secure server.

— Afam Osigwe, SANThe outgoing NBA President described the challenges faced during the election, including a cyberattack.

The election process was not without its challenges. The Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA), Aham Ejelam, SAN, announced the results amidst reports of technical difficulties and a significant cyberattack. The attack forced the ECNBA to rebuild and migrate its IT infrastructure to a more secure server, highlighting the need for enhanced data protection measures.

Despite efforts by some individuals to undermine the credibility of the process, the Committee remained resolute in ensuring that the election was successfully concluded.

— Aham Ejelam, SANThe Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA) spoke about the committee's determination to complete the election despite attempts to discredit it.

Outgoing NBA President Afam Osigwe, SAN, acknowledged the determined attempts to disrupt the election but praised the committee's resolve. He urged the newly elected officers to be magnanimous and called on unsuccessful candidates to support the new leadership for the sake of the association's unity. Osigwe emphasized that the NBA must continue to uphold the rule of law and the integrity of its electoral processes. The ECNBA plans a comprehensive review of the election to strengthen future processes.

the unity of the Bar must remain paramount.

— Afam Osigwe, SANThe outgoing NBA President stressed the importance of unity within the legal association.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ThisDay in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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