Nigerian Bar Association Elects Second Female President Amidst Election Challenges

Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, has made history as the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), securing victory in a closely watched election that concluded Sunday. She becomes only the second woman to lead the legal body since its establishment in 1933, repeating a feat achieved 34 years prior.

“

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.

Badejo-Okusanya garnered 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 percent of the total, to defeat her closest competitor, Lateef Akangbe, SAN, who received 7,934 votes. Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, trailed with 5,855 votes. The election, however, was not without its challenges. Chief Aham Ejelam, SAN, Chairman of the Electoral Committee, revealed that the process endured internal wranglings and a significant technical glitch, including a cyberattack that nearly derailed the entire exercise.

Despite the hurdles, the NBA leadership is set to transition with Badejo-Okusanya and other elected officials beginning a two-year term from 2026 to 2028. While the President-elect was absent at the announcement due to a flight delay, a campaign team member conveyed her commitment to reconciliation. She intends to extend a "handshake of friendship" to all candidates who vied for the presidential seat.

“

This is a trying time for the Bar. Many persons may still go to great lengths to rubbish the association. However, this is a time for healing. At the end of the day, let the Bar be the winner.

Outgoing NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, acknowledged the difficulties faced, including attempts to undermine the election. He commended the resilience of the electoral committee and urged the newly elected officials to be magnanimous in victory. "This is a trying time for the Bar. Many persons may still go to great lengths to rubbish the association. However, this is a time for healing. At the end of the day, let the Bar be the winner," Osigwe stated. He also highlighted the need for a thorough analysis of the electoral challenges, particularly the cyberattack, to bolster confidence in future NBA elections and protect the integrity of the data and the process.

“

The cyberattack shows that we must do more, not only for data protection, but to protect our electoral integrity. We must insulate our electoral process from such activities.