By Stephen Simon
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 officers’ election after defeating two other senior lawyers in a keenly contested poll.
The Chairman of the NBA Electoral Committee, Aham Ejelam, SAN, announced the results at the association’s National Secretariat in Abuja on Sunday after the conclusion of the election, which experienced delays following technical challenges and a cyberattack on the electronic voting platform.
Badejo-Okusanya secured the highest number of votes cast to become the new leader of Africa’s largest professional body of lawyers. Her election marks a significant milestone for the association as she prepares to succeed the outgoing NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN.
In his remarks, Ejelam commended members of the Electoral Committee, election observers, candidates and lawyers who participated in the exercise for their patience and commitment despite the unexpected disruptions that affected the voting process. He noted that additional security measures were deployed to safeguard the integrity of the election before voting resumed.
The committee assured members that every valid vote was counted in accordance with the NBA Constitution and the election guidelines, describing the process as transparent, credible and reflective of the will of the association’s members across the country.
The emergence of Badejo-Okusanya has been widely welcomed by members of the legal profession, many of whom expressed optimism that her administration would deepen reforms, strengthen the rule of law, improve lawyers’ welfare and enhance the association’s engagement with national issues affecting the justice sector.
The NBA election is regarded as one of the most closely watched professional association polls in Nigeria, with its outcome often shaping discussions on legal practice, judicial reforms, constitutional governance and the protection of the rule of law. Badejo-Okusanya is expected to assume office at the conclusion of the association’s Annual General Conference later this year.
