Historic Milestone: Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya Emerges 33rd NBA President
The Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) has officially declared Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya as the President-Elect of the association following the 2026 national officers election. Polling 12,317 votes (47.18%), she defeated her main rivals, Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, SAN—who finished second with 7,934 votes (30.39%)—and Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, who came third with 5,855 votes (22.43%).
Her victory marks a major historic threshold: she becomes the 33rd President of the NBA, the first female candidate ever elected directly to the office, and only the second female to lead the bar association in its entire 93-year history.
Outgoing President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, commended the process while acknowledging that the e-voting platform survived severe technical hurdles, including attempted cyber attacks.
Breakdown of the Presidential Ballot
| Candidate | Rank / Status | Total Votes Received | Percentage Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya SAN | Winner / President-Elect | 12,317 | 47.18% |
| Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe SAN | Runner-Up | 7,934 | 30.39% |
| Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro SAN | 3rd Place | 5,855 | 22.43% |
The Controversy: Akangbe Rejects Results Over Disenfranchisement Allegations
Despite the official declaration, runner-up Lateef Akangbe, SAN, issued a detailed five-page statement rejecting the election outcome. Akangbe alleged widespread systemic irregularities that compromised the integrity of the digital election.
Key Allegations Raised by Akangbe:
(1) Digital Access Failures: Thousands of verified lawyers faced server timeouts, authentication crashes, and missing voter photos on the electronic ballot.
(2) Multiple Voting Claims: Allegations that backend system flaws allowed certain credentials to bypass the "one-lawyer, one-vote" rule.
(3) Severe Voter Disenfranchisement: Claiming that low voter participation (over 68% non-voting) was caused by technical barriers rather than voter apathy.
Analytical Insights: Why the Electoral Dynamics Shifted
Speaking as an analyst on Arise News, legal practitioner Frank Tier highlighted the key political forces that swayed the election outcome:
- Mobilization of Female Lawyers: Female practitioners organized with unprecedented unity, treating Badejo-Okusanya’s candidacy as a decisive moment to break decades of male dominance in bar governance.
- Protest Votes Against Executive Interference: Perceived overreach by government officials attempting to dictate bar leadership created a massive backlash. Key regional blocs, including the Midwest Bar, cast protest votes for Badejo-Okusanya as an underdog figure to preserve the association’s independence.
- The Legitimacy Gap: The low voter turnout—where less than 27,000 of the 82,000 eligible lawyers participated—leaves the incoming executive with an immediate hurdle to restore broad internal confidence.
The Path Forward: "A Bolder Bar That Works for Everyone"
Addressing members following her victory, President-Elect Badejo-Okusanya downplayed gender as the primary reason for her success, framing her win as a mandate based on her track record and practical policy manifesto.
"My strategy is simple: members first. We need to build a bolder bar that works for everyone—helping lawyers earn better, live better, and practice with dignity. While the win was decisive, my immediate priority is to lead an inclusive process of internal reconciliation so the bar can move forward as one." — Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN
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