ABUJA — Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, has been elected the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), following the conclusion of the association’s national electronic elections.
Badejo-Okusanya secured 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 per cent of the ballots cast, defeating her closest challenger, Mr Lateef Akangbe, SAN, who polled 7,934 votes. Mr Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, finished third with 5,855 votes.
The results were announced on Sunday at the NBA National Secretariat in Abuja by the Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA), Aham Ejelam, SAN, after the 24-hour electronic voting process ended.
The election also produced a new National Executive Committee for the 2026–2028 term, with Mr Afam Okeke elected General Secretary after polling 8,478 votes.
Okeke, the immediate past Chairman of the NBA Unity Bar in Abuja, defeated five other contenders, including Dr Rapulu Nduka, who secured 6,188 votes, and Chidi Ezenwafor, who polled 4,560 votes.
Other newly elected national officers include Oghenero Okoro as First Vice President, Aghogho Gladys as Assistant General Secretary, and Chinelo Ofoegbunam as Welfare Secretary.
According to the NBA, electronic voting commenced at 7:35 a.m. on Saturday and concluded at the same time on Sunday, with 82,167 accredited members participating in the exercise.
Osigwe Reflects on Difficult Election
Outgoing NBA President, Mr Afam Osigwe, SAN, described the election as one of the most challenging in the association’s recent history, revealing that attempts were made to frustrate the electoral process.
He disclosed that the election infrastructure came under a cyberattack, stressing that the incident highlighted the urgent need to strengthen cybersecurity and data protection within the association.
Despite the challenges, Osigwe said the integrity of the electoral process was preserved and urged members to remain united.
He called on victorious candidates to be magnanimous in victory while encouraging those who were unsuccessful to continue contributing to the growth of the legal profession.
“The unity of the Bar cannot and should never be negotiated,” he said, adding that future NBA elections must continue to be determined exclusively by lawyers.
Okeke Promises Inclusive Leadership
In his acceptance speech, Okeke thanked NBA members for the confidence reposed in him, pledging to uphold the association’s values and strengthen its administrative efficiency.
He said his election reflected the collective commitment of Nigerian lawyers to justice, the rule of law and institutional development.
“We are all winners,” he said. “I appreciate my fellow contestants for enriching the democratic process through issue-based campaigns and their commitment to the legal profession.”
Okeke also expressed gratitude to his campaign team, advisers, volunteers and supporters, describing their dedication as instrumental to his victory.
The NBA elections are widely regarded as one of the most significant leadership contests within Nigeria’s professional bodies, with the association playing a prominent role in promoting constitutional democracy, the rule of law, judicial independence and legal reforms across the country.
