ABUJA: Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, has been elected the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) after securing a decisive victory in the association’s 2026 national election.
Badejo-Okusanya emerged winner after polling 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 percent of the 26,106 valid ballots cast during the 24-hour electronic voting exercise, which commenced at 7:35 a.m. on Saturday and concluded at 7:34 a.m. on Sunday.
Her victory marks a historic milestone as she becomes only the second woman to lead the Nigerian Bar Association since its establishment in 1933, ending a 34-year wait for a female president of the country’s foremost legal body.
She defeated two other contenders in the keenly contested race to emerge as the leader of the association for the 2026–2028 administration.
In the race for the position of 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, overseeing the affairs of the NBA from 2026 to 2028.
Although Badejo-Okusanya was not present at the NBA National Secretariat in Abuja when the results were officially announced due to a delayed flight, a member of her campaign team, Aminu Gadanya (SAN), accepted the victory on her behalf.
Gadanya disclosed that the president-elect is committed to fostering unity within the association and would extend a handshake of friendship to her opponents and all members of the Bar.
According to him, Badejo-Okusanya intends to run an inclusive administration focused on strengthening the legal profession and promoting unity across the association.
Badejo-Okusanya’s emergence has been widely described as a landmark achievement for gender representation in Nigeria’s legal profession.
Her election signals a new chapter for the NBA, with many lawyers expressing optimism that her administration will champion reforms, enhance members’ welfare, uphold the rule of law, and strengthen the association’s voice on national issues.
The successful conclusion of the electronic voting process also reinforces the NBA’s commitment to technology-driven, transparent, and credible elections.
