Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya Becomes NBA’s First Elected Female President

By Emmanuel Kwada

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has entered a new chapter in its history with the election of Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, as its first female elected president, a milestone widely celebrated across the legal profession and beyond.

Badejo-Okusanya emerged victorious in the association’s 2026 national elections, becoming the 33rd president of the NBA and only the second woman to occupy the office since the association was founded.

Her election is being hailed as a significant breakthrough for gender representation in Nigeria’s legal community and a defining moment for one of Africa’s largest professional bodies.

The senior advocate secured 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 percent of the total votes cast for the presidential position. She defeated her closest challenger, Mr. Lateef Akangbe, SAN, who garnered 7,934 votes, while Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, received 5,855 votes.

The results were announced on Sunday by the Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), Mr. Aham Ejelam, SAN, following the conclusion of voting and collation of results.

The election, which held between July 18 and 19, attracted participation from lawyers across the country, with more than 26,000 members casting their votes electronically.

Although Dame Priscilla Kuye had previously served as NBA president between 1991 and 1992 after succeeding Clement Akpamgbo following his appointment as Attorney-General of the Federation, Badejo-Okusanya becomes the first woman to be elected directly into the prestigious office.

Her emergence follows months of intense campaigns, debates and internal political maneuvering within the association. The contest was particularly significant because the presidency had been zoned to the South-West geopolitical zone, leading to disagreements and allegations of candidate imposition that threatened to divide the Bar.

However, with the election concluded and a winner declared, many legal practitioners are hopeful that the association can now move beyond the tensions and focus on strengthening the legal profession and promoting the rule of law.

Speaking shortly after her victory, Badejo-Okusanya described her election as a collective triumph for all members of the legal profession and pledged to build a more inclusive, responsive and progressive association.

“Today, I stand before you with a heart full of gratitude and a deep sense of responsibility. I am honoured by the confidence members of the Nigerian Bar Association have placed in me by electing me to serve as your President,” she said.

She assured members that improving lawyers’ welfare would be a major priority of her administration, promising to work towards better earnings, improved working conditions and greater professional opportunities for practitioners across the country.

According to her, the election should not create divisions within the association but rather serve as an opportunity for members to unite around shared goals.

“The election is behind us. We are one Bar, bound together by our commitment to justice, the rule of law and the growth of our profession,” she stated.

Outgoing NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, also reflected on the challenges encountered during the electoral process, revealing that the association’s electronic voting system came under a cyber attack that threatened to disrupt the exercise.

Osigwe said despite attempts to undermine the process, the electoral committee remained resolute and ensured that the election was completed successfully.

He disclosed that the association would conduct a comprehensive review of the election to strengthen future processes and improve cybersecurity measures.

“The cyber attack shows that we must do more not only for data protection but also to protect our electoral integrity,” he said, adding that the Bar must continue to safeguard its independence and credibility.

The election also produced several other national officers, including Oghenero Okoro as First Vice President, Afam Okeke as General Secretary, Aghogho Gladys as Assistant General Secretary and Chinelo Audrey Ofoegbunam as Welfare Secretary.

Meanwhile, congratulatory messages have continued to pour in from prominent Nigerians and leaders within the legal community.

Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, described Badejo-Okusanya’s victory as a landmark achievement and urged her leadership to uphold the values of constitutional democracy, human rights, judicial independence and the rule of law.

Similarly, respected legal practitioner Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, challenged the President-elect to make unity within the NBA a top priority.

Pinheiro noted that the association remains divided along generational, ideological and personal lines and stressed that rebuilding trust among members would be crucial to the success of her administration.

He expressed confidence that her leadership would strengthen the NBA’s role as a defender of justice, good governance and democratic accountability in Nigeria.

As preparations begin for her inauguration next month, expectations are high that Badejo-Okusanya’s administration will usher in a new era of inclusion, reform and stronger advocacy for the welfare of lawyers.

For many within the legal profession, her election is more than a personal achievement—it is a historic moment that signals the growing influence of women in leadership and a fresh opportunity to reposition the Nigerian Bar Association for the challenges ahead.