The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has successfully concluded its 2026 national elections, electing Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, as its 33rd President despite challenges that included internal disputes and a cyberattack on the electronic voting platform.
The results were announced on Sunday by the Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), Chief Aham Ejelam, SAN, at the association’s headquarters in Abuja.
Badejo-Okusanya secured 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 percent of the total votes cast, defeating her closest rival, Lateef Akangbe, SAN, who received 7,934 votes (30.39 percent). The third presidential candidate, Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, polled 5,855 votes, accounting for 22.43 percent of the votes.
A total of 26,106 valid votes were recorded in the closely watched presidential election.
Her victory marks a significant milestone in the history of the legal association, as she becomes only the second woman to lead the NBA since its establishment in 1933, repeating a feat last achieved 34 years ago.
In the election for General Secretary, Afam Okeke emerged victorious after polling 8,478 votes, defeating other contestants.
The newly elected national officers will serve a two-year tenure from 2026 to 2028.
Badejo-Okusanya was not present when the results were announced due to a delayed flight. However, a member of her campaign team, Aminu Gadanya, SAN, said the President-elect is committed to uniting the association and extending a hand of friendship to her opponents.
Reacting after the announcement, the outgoing NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, acknowledged that the election faced serious obstacles, particularly a coordinated cyberattack that nearly disrupted the voting process.
He said several attempts were made to undermine the credibility of the election but praised the Electoral Committee for remaining steadfast and ensuring the process was completed successfully.
Osigwe urged the newly elected officers to celebrate with humility and focus on healing divisions within the association.
He also revealed that the ECNBA would conduct a comprehensive review of the election to identify challenges and recommend measures to strengthen future electoral processes.
According to him, the cyberattack highlighted the urgent need to improve data security and safeguard the integrity of the NBA’s electronic voting system.
He disclosed that the ICT infrastructure had to be rebuilt and transferred to a more secure server before voting could continue, stressing that the association must continue to protect the independence and credibility of its electoral process.
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