Badejo-Okusanya made history, emerging as the second female NBA president in 34 years

Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, has emerged as president following the completion of the 2026 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) national officer elections.

Chairman of the NBA Election Committee, Chairman Aham Ejelam, SAN, on Sunday declared him the winner of the presidency, despite internal disputes and initial technical errors,

Ejelam, SAN, said Ms Badejo-Okusanya polled a total of 12,317 votes or representing 47.18 per cent, beating her closest challenger, Lateef Akangbe, SAN, who polled 7,934 votes or representing 30.39 per cent of the total votes cast.

The third candidate in the presidential election, Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, polled 5,855 votes, representing 22.43 percent, and finished third in the election.

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The Chair of the Election Committee revealed that a total of 26,106 votes were recorded in the presidential election which was marred by disputes.

With her win, Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, will become the 33rd President of the legal association, successfully repeating her 34-year history as the second woman to lead the NBA since its formation in 1933.

Meanwhile, Afam Okeke was elected as Secretary General of the statutory body, after garnering a total of 8,478 votes to defeat his opponents.

All elected officials will serve two-year terms from 2026 to 2028.

Although the President-elect, Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, was not present when the election results were announced at the NBA headquarters in Abuja, one of his campaign team members, Mr Aminu Gadanya, SAN, who disclosed that he had experienced flight delays, expressed his determination to extend a “friendly handshake” to all the aggrieved candidates.

In his remarks after the results were announced, outgoing NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, noted that the election faced several challenges, including a cyber attack that almost derailed the election process.