ABUJA — Newly elected President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya (SAN), has accepted her victory in the association’s presidential election, promising to lead with integrity, inclusiveness and accountability despite lingering controversies surrounding the poll.
Badejo-Okusanya was declared winner of the electronic election on Sunday by the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), following a 24-hour voting exercise that was marred by technical glitches and allegations of irregularities.
In a statement shared on her social media platforms after her victory, the senior advocate thanked lawyers across the country and members of her campaign team for their support and confidence in her vision, captured in her campaign slogan, “A Bolder Bar That Works for Everyone.”
She described her election as a victory for every lawyer who believes the NBA can become stronger, more inclusive and more responsive to the needs of its members.
“I will lead with integrity, courage, humility, fairness and accountability,” she pledged, adding that her administration would focus on improving the welfare of lawyers and creating an association where members can “earn better, live better and practise better.”
Badejo-Okusanya also extended congratulations to her fellow contestants, saying they enriched the democratic process, and pledged to work with them in advancing the interests of the legal profession.
Election Results
The ECNBA announced that Badejo-Okusanya secured 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 per cent of the 26,106 valid ballots cast.
Her closest challenger, Babatunde Akangbe (SAN), polled 7,934 votes (30.39 per cent), while Olumuyiwa Akinboro (SAN) came third with 5,855 votes (22.43 per cent).
The election also produced winners for 12 other national offices, including:
Oghenero Okoro – First Vice-President
Egya Nuhu John – Second Vice-President
Pepple Irene – Third Vice-President
Adam Okeke – General Secretary
Aghogho Gladys Okpomor – Assistant General Secretary
Esther Ifeoma Jimoh – Treasurer
Audrey Chinelo Ofoegbunam – Welfare Secretary
Prince I. Azubuike – Publicity Secretary
Uwomano Anthony Junior Aki – Assistant Publicity Secretary
Three representatives were also elected to the General Council of the Bar: Chidi Betsy Nnaji (Eastern Zone), Rotimi Komolafe (Western Zone), and Huwaila Muhammad Ibrahim (Northern Zone).
Badejo-Okusanya is expected to be sworn in as the 33rd President of the NBA during the association’s Annual General Conference scheduled for August 21–28 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Called to the Nigerian Bar in 2002, she holds degrees in English and Law from the University of Lagos. Her election makes her only the second woman to lead the 66-year-old association, following Priscilla Kuye, who served as NBA president between 1991 and 1992.
Akangbe Rejects Election Outcome
Despite the declaration of results, the election has continued to attract criticism.
Runner-up Babatunde Akangbe rejected the outcome, describing the exercise as “shambolic” and “a shame to the Bar.”
In a statement posted on his X account, Akangbe alleged that thousands of lawyers were unable to vote because of authentication failures, repeated error messages and the collapse of the electronic voting platform.
He questioned the ECNBA’s decision to reschedule the election from July 20 to July 18 without the approval of the NBA National Executive Council and claimed that an earlier agreement to postpone the exercise by one week to familiarise members with a newly introduced SMS authentication system was ignored.
According to him, the electoral committee’s explanation that a cyberattack disrupted the process did not excuse what he described as inadequate preparation.
Akangbe also claimed he was unable to cast his own vote despite several attempts and assistance from both the ECNBA chairman and the outgoing NBA president.
He further alleged that one-time passwords (OTPs) were sent via email instead of SMS, contrary to earlier assurances, and that the electronic ballot initially displayed only Badejo-Okusanya’s photograph while those of the other candidates failed to appear until complaints were raised.
The senior lawyer also raised concerns over alleged multiple voting and argued that the approximately 27 per cent voter turnout reflected voter suppression caused by technical failures rather than voter apathy.
He disclosed that he is consulting with his team on possible next steps and had earlier demanded the suspension of the election, preservation of electronic voting records, an independent forensic audit of the platform and a postponement of the exercise.
Outgoing NBA President Calls for Unity
Outgoing NBA President Afam Osigwe (SAN) praised the successful conclusion of the election, saying it survived a coordinated cyberattack that threatened to derail the voting process.
Speaking after the official declaration of results in Abuja, Osigwe said the ECNBA and its technical team successfully migrated the voting platform to a secure server after technical disruptions delayed voting for more than seven hours.
He urged members to put the contest behind them and unite in the interest of the legal profession.
“This is a time for healing. At the end of the day, the Bar must be the ultimate winner,” he said.
Osigwe also disclosed that the ECNBA would conduct a comprehensive review of the election to assess the challenges encountered, particularly the cyberattack, with a view to strengthening future NBA elections.
