Historic Win Under Scrutiny: Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya Takes NBA Presidency
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has entered a defining era following the election of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya as its 33rd President-Elect. Securing 12,317 votes (47.18% of the total cast) in a 24-hour electronic ballot, she makes history as the second woman to lead the legal body in its 90-year existence, and the first female elected directly to the office in 34 years. She succeeds Afam Osigwe, SAN, for a two-year tenure spanning 2026 to 2028.
However, the historic victory arrives in the wake of sharp pushback from her main opponents—including Olumide Akimboro, SAN, and Lateef Omayemi Akande, SAN—who labeled the election process a "sham." Opponents alleged widespread technical glitches, voter disenfranchisement, and political interference, claiming she was backed as a "government candidate" linked to high-level political figures.
Ready for Audit: Addressing the Trust Deficit
Appearing live on Channels TV's Sunday Politics, Badejo-Okusanya firmly rejected allegations that her victory was orchestrated or compromised, emphasizing that no election under such heavy public and legal scrutiny could be secretly rigged.
To demonstrate full transparency and restore moral authority to the association, she declared her willingness to undergo a comprehensive post-election review.
"I can beat my chest and say that if need be, I will subject myself to a post-election audit. I have no desire for my win to be delegitimized in any way. We've had a trust deficit in the association regarding elections, and as a bar, we need to come together and have an honest conversation about how we conduct our elections." — Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN
Breaking the Professional Glass Ceiling
Clarifying historical nuances surrounding Priscilla Kuye's 1991 leadership—who originally stepped into the presidency from her First Vice-President role after the sitting president became Attorney-General—Badejo-Okusanya highlighted the deep structural hurdles women face in legal practice.
[Undergraduate Level: High Academic Performance] ───► [Mid-Career Burden: Social & Family Demands] ───► [Top Leadership: Severe Gender Drop-off]
The Educational Reality: She noted that while women frequently dominate academically (citing faculties where top honors go entirely to female graduates), social obligations, cultural nuances, and demanding work environments often prevent them from reaching senior leadership levels.
Symbolic Impact: She expressed hope that her election serves as a model of bold aspiration for female legal practitioners across Nigeria.
Priority #1: Uniting a Divided Bar
Badejo-Okusanya concluded by pledging to make reconciliation her immediate administrative focus, insisting that the legal profession cannot hold the broader democratic system accountable if its own internal house remains divided.
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