“NBA Presidential Candidates’ Debate Holds With Two Aspirants” — Akangbe SAN, Badejo-Okusanya SAN Face Off As Akinboro SAN Declines Over Electoral Concerns

*Akangbe SAN Defends Debate Participation as Consistent with Supporting AGF’s Intervention, Reserves All Rights on Electoral Process

The Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) held the 2026 Candidates’ Debate and Manifesto Day on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at the NBA National Headquarters, Abuja, with two of the three presidential candidates, Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, SAN, and Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN (Mrs B.), presenting their manifestos and taking questions from the moderator, while the third candidate, Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, declined to attend, describing his decision as “a principled stance, not a withdrawal from engagement.”

The debate, moderated by Channels Television’s Shalashi Sule, a lawyer and deputy news editor who returned for her third consecutive appearance as moderator, took place against the backdrop of the AGF’s contested intervention directing the postponement of the election, the Court of Appeal’s rejection of the AGF’s “Directions” as Terms of Settlement, Akangbe SAN’s formal protest over the debate format, and competing statements from the three candidates explaining their positions on participation.

The ECNBA Chairman, Aham Ejelam, SAN, opened the event by assuring members that “this election that is under my control, by the special grace of God, despite all the misgivings, will turn out free, fair, credible and transparently well conducted.”

Revised Format After Akangbe’s Protest

The moderator confirmed at the outset that the ECNBA had revised the debate format in response to Akangbe SAN’s formal protest of July 4. The revision introduced rotation of the speaking order across all phases of the debate, ensuring that no candidate occupied the same position throughout the event, a change the moderator described as being implemented “to ensure that there is a level playing field.”

Akangbe SAN had threatened to withdraw from the debate unless the ECNBA introduced rotation, a structured rebuttal round, and the right of candidates to engage directly with each other’s positions. In his confirmation of participation, he acknowledged that the ECNBA had “agreed to revise the debate format to address the structural deficiencies I identified” and commended the committee “for responding to the substance of the objection rather than dismissing it.”

Akangbe SAN: “Elevate the Bar Through IDARE”

Akangbe SAN presented a manifesto built on five interconnected pillars he called “IDARE”: Institutional and governance reform, Digital transformation and modernisation of members’ services, Adequate remuneration and protection of lawyers’ livelihood, Rule of law, administration of justice and independence of the judiciary, and Empowerment, welfare, inclusion and equity.

He opened with a direct challenge to members: “Leadership is about improving the lives of others. And the big question before us is whether the NBA as it is currently improving our lives. Is the NBA as it is fit for purpose and fulfilling its objectives?”

He argued that the NBA had lost welfare benefits that members previously enjoyed: “I ask you today, beyond paying your BPF, tell me one thing, one benefit you’ve gotten from the NBA in terms of welfare. The answer is zero.”

Akangbe contrasted the current situation with what he described as a period six years ago when BPF payments came with tangible benefits: “Once you pay your BPF, with a one billion naira income from BPF, we had free Law Pavilion. We had access to free sales. We had access to finance and an NHIS scheme. Life insurance increased from one million naira to two million naira. Today we do not have all of this in the NBA anymore.”

He cited his track record as Chairman of the NBA Lagos Branch from 2019: health insurance for members, training programmes including sponsoring 100 young lawyers to become arbitrators, COVID-19 palliatives delivered to members’ doorsteps, access to the Lagos Bar Journal with branch dues, and the initiation of the remuneration conversation that ultimately produced the current remuneration order.

He proposed institutional reforms including a purpose-fit secretariat with institutional memory, a mobile app enabling every lawyer to transact with the NBA without knowing anyone personally, inclusive engagement of lawyers across all practice settings including public service, academia, and the judiciary, a restructured Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) with properly curated training relevant to specific practice areas, and a national essay and moot competition for young lawyers whose winners would be sponsored to attend international conferences.

Badejo-Okusanya SAN: “From Surviving to Thriving”

Badejo-Okusanya SAN opened with a question she described as fundamental: “Why does this election matter? It matters because across Nigeria today, too many lawyers are working harder and yet earning less. Too many young lawyers are questioning whether there’s a future in this profession for them.”

She addressed directly the question of her experience relative to her competitors: “I know that some will ask, ‘How can she do all this? She’s never held any high office at the branch level or at the national level.’ I know comparisons will be made about experience. Some will point to the number of offices that others have had and believe that this alone makes them better qualified.”

Her response was pointed: “Leadership is not measured by the offices we have held. Leadership is measured by judgment, by vision, by courage, by integrity, by the ability to build institutions, by the discipline to deliver sustainable results, and ultimately by whether the lives of those we are privileged to serve become better because we led.”

She presented her manifesto around five pillars: helping lawyers earn better through stronger advocacy for living wages, creating opportunities for all lawyers to thrive, ensuring members are protected and respected, delivering services through a responsive and technology-driven secretariat, and building a bolder bar that puts members first.

In her closing statement, Badejo-Okusanya delivered a message that drew sustained applause: “A year ago, very few people believed I’ll be standing on this stage. Today, as one of the final candidates for the presidency of our great association, let me pause at this point to say thank you and God bless you to all the people who believed in me.”

“This campaign has never really been about me. It has been about every lawyer that has ever been told that your turn will never come. Every young lawyer who ever wondered, ‘Do they even see me?’ Every woman who dared to aspire. Every colleague from a small rural branch who believes that leadership is reserved for people in the urban branches,” she stated.

“I didn’t come this far simply to inspire. I came to serve. And it would be the greatest honour of my professional life to go to bed on the 18th of July and wake up on Sunday as your 33rd president of the Nigerian Bar Association,” she declared.

Akinboro SAN: “A Principled Stance, Not a Withdrawal”

Akinboro SAN, who was not present at the debate, issued a personal statement to his colleagues explaining his decision.

“Following careful consideration of recent developments surrounding the rescheduled NBA election and the proposed presidential debate, I have taken the difficult decision not to participate in the scheduled debate. This was not a choice made lightly,” Akinboro stated.

“Recent developments, including the manner in which key decisions regarding the electoral process and debate guidelines were introduced by the ECNBA, have raised concerns that strike at the very heart of these principles. I have communicated these concerns directly to the ECNBA, emphasising that meaningful engagement with all stakeholders is not a luxury, it is a necessity for a process of this magnitude,” he added.

He reassured his supporters: “Please understand, my decision not to participate in this specific event is a principled stance, not a withdrawal from engagement. I am, and remain, fully committed to this race and to each of you.”

Akinboro noted that he had participated in the debate hosted by the NBA Lagos Branch and the townhall organised by Timi Agbaje “precisely because I believe in the power of direct dialogue.”

Akangbe SAN: “Where Lawyers Gather, I Will Be There”

In a separate official statement issued after the debate, Akangbe SAN addressed commentary suggesting that his participation amounted to disregard of the AGF’s intervention.

“That suggestion is incorrect and does not reflect my position. From the very beginning, I have welcomed and supported the peace-building initiative of the Honourable Attorney-General,” Akangbe stated.

He drew a distinction between supporting reforms and engaging with the electorate: “Supporting reforms to the electoral process and engaging with members of the Bar are not mutually exclusive. One concerns improving the integrity of the election. The other concerns accountability to the electorate. Both are important, and both can proceed without contradiction.”

However, he was explicit that participation did not constitute endorsement of the electoral process: “My participation in the debate does not constitute, and shall not be construed as, an endorsement, acceptance, or legitimation of the broader electoral process as currently constituted by the ECNBA.”

He restated the concerns he had previously raised: “The concerns I have previously raised regarding the constitutional basis of the ECNBA’s appointment, the corporate standing and compliance history of the appointed service providers, the abandonment of the agreed NIN authentication safeguard, the unilateral rescheduling of the election date, and the conduct of the ECNBA in response to legitimate candidate scrutiny remain live, unresolved, and formally on the record.”

He concluded with the principle that has defined his campaign: “Throughout this campaign, I have maintained one simple principle: wherever lawyers gather to discuss the future of our profession, I will be there. I will listen. I will engage. I will remain accountable.”

The Manifesto Day also featured presentations from candidates for General Secretary, First Vice President, Welfare Secretary, Assistant Publicity Secretary, General Council of the Bar, and Third Vice President.

The event started behind schedule due to rain and the concurrent Body of Benchers ceremony, with the ECNBA adjusting the start time from 11:00 AM to approximately 12:30 PM to accommodate late-arriving candidates.

The NBA election is scheduled for Saturday, July 18, 2026, ten days after the debate. The three presidential candidates are Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, SAN, FCIArb, and Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN (Mrs B.).

The ECNBA Secretary closed the event with an assurance: “We assure you, by the grace of God, that we are going to deliver to you a free, fair, and transparent election.”

The Candidates’ Debate and Manifesto Day was held on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at the NBA National Headquarters, Abuja.

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