BREAKING: Badejo-Okusanya Emerges NBA President

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, has been elected the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), becoming only the second woman to lead the association in its history.

The results of the NBA national election showed that Badejo-Okusanya secured 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 per cent of the total votes cast, defeating her closest rivals in the keenly contested poll.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Lateef Akangbe, finished second with 7,934 votes, while Olumuyiwa Akinboro, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, polled 5,855 votes.

Her victory marks a significant milestone for the legal profession in Nigeria, as she follows in the footsteps of Priscilla Olabori Kuye, who served as the NBA’s first female president between 1991 and 1992.

The election also produced other national officers who will serve on the association’s executive committee.

Oghenero Okoro was elected First Vice President after polling 11,024 votes, while Afam Okeke emerged as General Secretary with 8,478 votes.

Aghogho Gladys won the position of Assistant General Secretary with 14,312 votes, and Chinelo Audrey Ofoegbunam was elected Welfare Secretary after securing 14,911 votes.

Other candidates also emerged victorious in their respective positions, completing the composition of the NBA’s new national executive.

The election followed weeks of campaigns and debates among candidates, with members of the legal profession voting electronically to determine the association’s new leadership.

The process attracted widespread attention across the country, particularly after technical challenges were reported during the early stages of voting.

Despite the concerns raised by some contestants over the conduct of the election, the exercise was concluded, culminating in the emergence of Badejo-Okusanya as president.

The newly elected NBA president is expected to assume office with the responsibility of leading Nigeria’s largest professional legal association, promoting the rule of law, defending the independence of the judiciary and advancing the welfare of legal practitioners across the country.

Her election is widely regarded as a historic moment for the Nigerian Bar Association and is expected to inspire greater participation of women in leadership positions within the legal profession.