Badejo-Okusanya elected 33rd president of the NBA, defeats Akangbe and Akinboro

Senior Lawyer of Nigeria, Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, has been elected as the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association after achieving a decisive victory in the association’s national elections conducted electronically.

Badejo-Okusanya polled 12,317 votes, accounting for 47.18% of the total votes cast, defeating his closest rival, Lateef Akangbe (SAN), who garnered 7,934 votes, while Olumuyiwa Akinboro (SAN) came third with 5,855 votes.

The results were announced in the early hours of Sunday at the NBA National Secretariat in Abuja by the Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the Bar Association of Nigeria, Aham Ejelam (SAN), following the conclusion of the national exercise.

His election marks a significant transition of leadership in Nigeria’s premier body of legal professionals, taking over from the outgoing NBA President, Afam Osigwe (SAN).

Other national officials elected during the exercise include Oghenero Okoro, who emerged as First Vice President with 11,024 votes; Afam Okeke, elected Secretary General with 8,478 votes; Aghogho Gladys, who won the position of deputy general secretary with 14,312 votes; and Chinelo Ofoegbunam, elected Minister of Welfare after obtaining 14,911 votes.

Speaking after the results were announced, Osigwe revealed that the election survived attempts by some individuals to derail the process.

According to him, the period leading up to the poll was one of the most difficult in the recent history of the association, arguing that concerted efforts were made to undermine the NBA’s credibility.

He urged the newly elected to be magnanimous in victory and appealed to the disqualified candidates to maintain their commitment to the association.

Osigwe also referred to the cyber attack that affected the electoral process, saying it highlighted the urgent need to strengthen the NBA’s data protection and digital infrastructure.

“The NBA, being an association of lawyers, should be able to determine the course of its electoral process while promoting the rule of law.

“Mistakes may have been made during the process, but I have faith that my successor will correct them,” he said.

He also called on members of the Bar Association to close ranks behind the new leadership.

“I call on the winners to extend the hand of friendship to those who lost and work together with a united front to advance the Bar Association. The unity of the Bar Association cannot and must never be negotiated,” Osigwe added.

He expressed confidence that the new executive committee will build on the achievements of the outgoing administration and wished the incoming leadership a successful tenure.

The NBA elections had attracted intense interest among lawyers nationwide following controversies over the electoral process and concerns about attempts to disrupt the exercise before voting was finally concluded. (NAN)

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