Badejo-Okusanya Makes History as NBA's First Elected Female President
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, has made history as the first woman to be elected President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), emerging victorious in the association's 2026 national elections.
Badejo-Okusanya, who becomes the 33rd President of Africa's largest professional body of lawyers, secured 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 per cent of the total votes cast for the presidency, according to results announced by the Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), Aham Ejelam, SAN.
She defeated her closest rival, Lateef Akangbe, SAN, who polled 7,934 votes (30.39 per cent), while Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, secured 5,855 votes (22.43 per cent).
Although Dame Priscilla Olabori Kuye became the first woman to lead the NBA between 1991 and 1992 after succeeding Clement Akpamgbo following his appointment as Attorney-General of the Federation, Badejo-Okusanya is the first woman to be elected into the office by members of the association.
The election, conducted online between July 18 and 19, recorded 26,184 accredited voters, with 26,106 valid votes cast in the presidential contest from a register of 82,172 eligible voters.
Her emergence comes after a fiercely contested election that was nearly overshadowed by disagreements over the zoning of the presidency to the South-West and allegations of candidate imposition. Despite the controversies, the electoral process was concluded successfully, paving the way for a leadership transition in August.
Other officials elected 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, among others.
Speaking after the declaration of the results, outgoing NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, disclosed that the election survived a major cyberattack that nearly disrupted the process.
"Many went to a great extent to truncate the electoral process. Even though they maligned the process with their utterances, we held firm. Every effort to derail the process failed," he said.
Osigwe said the Electoral Committee would review the challenges encountered during the election to strengthen future polls, noting that the cyberattack underscored the need to improve data protection and safeguard the integrity of the association's electoral system.
"The cyberattack shows that we must do more not only for data protection but to protect our electoral integrity. The Bar must always protect its independence and determine the course of its electoral process," he added.
In her acceptance message, Badejo-Okusanya thanked members of the association for their confidence and pledged to prioritise lawyers' welfare, professional development and institutional reforms.
"Today, I stand before you with a heart full of gratitude and a deep sense of responsibility. I am honoured by the confidence members of the Nigerian Bar Association have placed in me by electing me to serve as your President," she wrote.
Describing her victory as a collective achievement, she urged members to move beyond the election and unite behind a common vision for the profession.
"The election is behind us. We are one Bar, bound together by our commitment to justice, the rule of law and the growth of our profession. Together, we will build an Association where every lawyer has the opportunity to earn better, live better and practise better. The work starts now," she said.
Her election has attracted widespread congratulations from within and outside the legal profession.
The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) also congratulated the President-elect, describing her election as a significant achievement for the legal profession.
Badejo-Okusanya is married to renowned public relations practitioner and Group Managing Director of CMC Connect LLP, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.
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