By: Tunji Okunlola
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has elected Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as its 33rd president, following an electronic national election held over the weekend.
Badejo-Okusanya, the only woman among the three presidential candidates, polled 12,317 votes, representing 47.18% of the total votes cast, to defeat her closest challenger, Lateef Akangbe, SAN, who scored 7,934 votes (30.39%), while Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, came third with 5,855 votes (22.43%). A total of 26,106 lawyers participated in the election, which was held through electronic voting over 24 hours, from 7:35 a.m. on Saturday to 7:34 a.m. on Sunday.
Results were announced at the NBA National Secretariat in Abuja by the Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA), Aham Ejelam, SAN, following an election that was delayed by technical issues and an attempted cyberattack.
With her victory, Badejo-Okusanya becomes only the second woman to lead the NBA since its founding in 1933; 34 years after the first, following Priscilla Kuye, who served as president from 1991 to 1992.
Other officers elected
Oghenero Okoro was elected First Vice-President with 11,024 votes, while Afam Okeke was elected General Secretary, polling 8,478 votes to defeat his opponents. Aghogho Gladys was elected Assistant General Secretary with 14,312 votes, and Chinelo Audrey Ofoegbunam was elected Welfare Secretary with 14,911 votes.
All newly elected national officers will serve a two-year tenure, from 2026 to 2028.
President-elect absent from declaration
Although Badejo-Okusanya was absent when the results were announced at NBA headquarters in Abuja, a member of her campaign team, Aminu Gadanya, SAN, explained that her absence was due to a flight delay. He said the president-elect was resolved to extend a “handshake of friendship” to all the aggrieved candidates.
Outgoing NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, noted that the election had faced several challenges, including a cyberattack that nearly derailed the process, and urged the winners to be magnanimous in victory and to celebrate with restraint.
Who is the new NBA president?
Called to the Nigerian Bar in 2002, Badejo-Okusanya obtained her law degree from the University of Lagos before beginning her legal career at Olaniwun Ajayi LP, one of Nigeria’s foremost commercial law firms. She first earned a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in English from the University of Lagos before pursuing a degree in law at the same institution.
In 2007, she was appointed by former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola as a senior aide on Justice Sector Reform, contributing to initiatives aimed at improving the administration of justice in Lagos State. She later served as General Counsel to the Lagos State Governor between 2011 and 2015.
Currently, Badejo-Okusanya is a partner at ALP NG & Co. (Africa Law Practice NG & Company), where she serves as Co-Head of the firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice, a role she has held since May 2017, providing legal services in litigation, arbitration, mediation, public policy and government relations. She attained the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on September 29, 2025.
She previously served on the Executive Committee of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK), Nigeria Branch, and currently sits on the Board of the Lagos Court of Arbitration. She is also a member of several international legal organisations, including the International Bar Association, the International Council for Commercial Arbitration, ArbitralWomen, and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association.
Tags: #NBAelections2026 #Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya #Mazi Afam Ozigwe