Nigerian Bar Association Makes History with Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya's Presidential Win

In a landmark election that marked a significant milestone for the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, has emerged as the first woman to be elected as the president of the association. This historic victory was announced by the Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), Aham Ejelam, SAN, on Sunday, following a keenly contested election that took place between July 18 and 19, 2026. With a total of 26,106 votes cast for the presidential candidates out of 82,172 registered voters, Badejo-Okusanya secured 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 per cent of the total votes cast, to defeat her closest rivals, Mr. Lateef Akangbe, SAN, who polled 7,934 votes, and Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, who secured 5,855 votes. The election, which was not without its challenges, including a cyber attack that threatened to disrupt the process, has been hailed as a major step forward for the association. The outgoing President of the NBA, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, described the election as a trying time for the Bar, but expressed gratitude that the process was not derailed despite the challenges. In her acceptance message, Badejo-Okusanya thanked members of the Bar for the confidence they have reposed in her and pledged to prioritize the welfare of lawyers, build an association where members can enjoy better earnings, improved working conditions, and enhanced professional opportunities. She also urged members to put the election behind them and work together for the advancement of the legal profession. The newly elected president has received congratulatory messages from prominent Nigerians, including the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, who described her victory as a reflection of the confidence of the Bar in her leadership and a significant milestone for women in the legal profession. Another notable legal luminary, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, has challenged Badejo-Okusanya to make organisational unity her immediate priority, stressing that the Bar is currently polarized along generational, ideological, and personal lines. With her historic victory, Badejo-Okusanya is set to take the helm of the NBA, Africa's largest legal body, and is expected to bring her vision, leadership, and commitment to the association.