Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, has been elected the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), defeating two other senior lawyers in the association’s 2026 national election.
Announcing the results in Abuja on Sunday, Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA), Aham Ejelam, SAN, said Badejo-Okusanya secured 12,317 votes (47.18%), ahead of Lateef Akangbe, SAN, who polled 7,934 votes (30.39%), while Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, received 5,855 votes (22.43%). A total of 26,106 votes were cast in the election, which experienced delays due to technical issues and a cyberattack.
With the victory, Badejo-Okusanya will serve a two-year term (2026–2028) and becomes only the second woman to lead the NBA after Priscilla Kuye, who served between 1991 and 1992.
Other elected national officers 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.
Although Badejo-Okusanya was absent during the announcement due to a flight delay, her campaign team said she is committed to promoting unity by extending a hand of fellowship to all contestants.
Outgoing NBA President Afam Osigwe, SAN, urged winners to be magnanimous in victory and called on unsuccessful candidates to support the new leadership. He also revealed that the Electoral Committee would review the election process following the cyberattack to strengthen future elections, improve cybersecurity, and preserve the integrity of the NBA’s electoral system.