NIGERIA: Oyinkansola Badejo Okusanya Elected 33rd NBA President As Electoral Committee Announces Full Results

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo Okusanya, has been elected the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), emerging victorious in the association’s 2026 national elections.

The Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), Aham Ejelam (SAN), announced the results at the NBA National Secretariat in Abuja following the conclusion of electronic voting.

Badejo Okusanya secured 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 per cent of the total votes cast, defeating Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe (SAN), who polled 7,934 votes (30.39 per cent), and Olumuyiwa Akinboro (SAN), who garnered 5,855 votes (22.43 per cent).

Her victory makes her only the second woman to lead the NBA in its over 90 year history, after Priscilla Kuye, who served as the association’s president between 1991 and 1992. She is expected to serve a two year term from 2026 to 2028.

According to the ECNBA, 26,184 lawyers voted out of the association’s 82,172 registered voters, representing a voter turnout of 31.86 per cent.

Chief Oghenero Okoro emerged as First Vice President after polling 11,024 votes to defeat Luqman Adekunle Laoye and Obajaja Onimisi Stephen.

Egya Nuhu John and Pepple Iniobong Irene were returned unopposed as Second Vice President and Third Vice President respectively.

In the contest for General Secretary, Afam O. Okeke emerged winner with 8,478 votes, defeating five other candidates, including Dr. Rapulu Ernest Nduka and Chidi Ezenwafor.

Aghogho Gladys Okpomor won the office of Assistant General Secretary with 14,312 votes, while Esther Ifeoma Jimoh was elected Treasurer unopposed.

Audrey Chinelo Ofoegbunam secured victory as Welfare Secretary with 14,911 votes, defeating four other contestants.

Dr. Prince I. Azubuike emerged as Publicity Secretary after polling 14,686 votes against Lawrence Shegun Ayewa, while Hadiza Nasir Ahmad won the position of Assistant Publicity Secretary with 10,094 votes.

For zonal representatives, Chidi Betsy Nnaji was elected to represent the Eastern Zone after polling the highest votes in a keenly contested race involving eight candidates. Rotimi Komolafe won the Western Zone seat, while Huwaila Muhammad Ibrahim emerged victorious in the Northern Zone election.

The declaration of the results brings to a close an election that was overshadowed by controversy after several lawyers alleged irregularities in the electronic voting process. Some members of the association claimed they experienced difficulties accessing the voting portal, while others questioned the accuracy of voting timestamps and voter verification.

The ECNBA had earlier attributed delays in the commencement of voting to what it described as a coordinated cyberattack on its electronic voting infrastructure, insisting that measures were put in place to protect the integrity of the process.

Despite the concerns, the electoral committee proceeded with the poll and subsequently declared the winners after collation of the electronic votes.

The 2026 NBA election also witnessed intense campaigns among senior legal practitioners seeking to lead Africa’s largest bar association, with the outcome expected to shape the direction of the association on issues relating to the rule of law, judicial reforms, legal education and the welfare of legal practitioners over the next two years.