The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has elected Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya(SAN) as 33rd President after defeating two other senior lawyers in the association’s 2026 national officers’ election.
Penpushing reports that Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the association, Aham Ejelam, announced the results on Sunday at the National Secretariat of the body in Abuja following the conclusion of the election, which was delayed by technical challenges and a cyberattack.
The chairman who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) said Badejo-Okusanya polled 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 per cent of the total votes cast, to defeat her closest challenger, Lateef Akangbe, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who secured 7,934 votes, representing 30.39 per cent.
Penpushing further reports that the electoral chairman added that the third presidential candidate, Olumuyiwa Akinboro, equally a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), polled 5,855 votes, representing 22.43 per cent.
The Electoral Committee Chairman stated that a total of 26,106 votes were recorded in the election, however, with victory of Badejo-Okusanya she will serve as the association’s president for a two-year tenure spanning 2026 to 2028.
Penpushing also reports that Badejo-Okusanya’s victory makes her the second female president of the association, after Priscilla Kuye, who led the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) from 1991 to 1992.
The other elected national officers include Oghenero Okoro, who emerged as First Vice-President with 11,024 votes; Afam Okeke, who was elected General Secretary with 8,478 votes; Aghogho Gladys, who won the position of Assistant General Secretary with 14,312 votes; and Chinelo Audrey Ofoegbunam, who emerged as Welfare Secretary with 14,911 votes.
Penpushing reports that Badejo-Okusanya was absent when the results were announced, however, a member of her campaign team, Aminu Gadanya, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), attributed her absence to a flight delay and said the president-elect was committed to extending a handshake of friendship to all aggrieved candidates in the interest of unity.
The outgoing President of the association, Afam Osigwe, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) speaking after the declaration of the results, said the election survived attempts to derail the process, including a cyberattack that forced the electoral committee to rebuild and migrate its ICT system 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.
Penpushing further reports that Osigwe urged the newly elected officers to be magnanimous in victory and called on unsuccessful candidates to support the new 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.
“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’, he emphasised.
“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’, he added
Penpushing also reports that Osigwe disclosed that the Electoral Committee would conduct a comprehensive review of the electoral process, particularly the challenges encountered, with a view to strengthening confidence in future association elections and improving the association’s cybersecurity and electoral integrity.
FOOTNOTE: You want to share story with us? You want to advertise with us? You need publicity for product, or service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348073463653 or email penpushing@yahoo.com
