Nigeria's Bar Elects First Woman President in Historic Vote

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya has been elected as the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), becoming the first woman to win the office through direct election and only the second woman to lead the association in its 93-year history.

Key Highlights:

• Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya becomes the NBA's first directly elected woman president
• She secured 12,317 votes in the 2026 electronic election
• She will serve a two-year term from 2026 to 2028

Badejo-Okusanya secured 12,317 votes, representing 47.18% of the ballots cast, defeating fellow Senior Advocates Lateef Akangbe, who received 7,934 votes (30.39%), and Olumuyiwa Akinboro, who polled 5,855 votes (22.43%). A total of 26,106 lawyers voted in the presidential election, while overall participation in the national officers' election stood at 26,184 out of 82,172 registered voters.

The election took place electronically over 24 hours between 18 and 19 July 2026. Despite a cyberattack that forced the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) to migrate the voting platform to a more secure server, the process concluded successfully. ECNBA Chairman Aham Ejelam, SAN, announced the results at the NBA National Secretariat in Abuja.

Badejo-Okusanya will serve a two-year term from 2026 to 2028, succeeding outgoing President Afam Osigwe, SAN, who assumed office in August 2024. Other elected national officers include Oghenero Okoro as First Vice-President, Afam Okeke as General Secretary, Aghogho Gladys as Assistant General Secretary, and Chinelo Audrey Ofoegbunam as Welfare Secretary.

Her victory marks a significant milestone for the legal profession in Nigeria. Although Dame Priscilla Kuye became the NBA's first female president in 1991 after succeeding Clement Akpamgbo, who was appointed Attorney General of the Federation, Badejo-Okusanya is the first woman to secure the position through a competitive election.

Speaking after the results were announced, Afam Osigwe acknowledged that the election faced serious challenges, particularly the cyberattack that nearly disrupted the process. He said the NBA would review the incident thoroughly and strengthen measures to protect future elections and the association's electoral integrity. He also urged members to unite after the contest, emphasising that the NBA should emerge stronger from the experience.

In her acceptance message, Badejo-Okusanya thanked members for their confidence and described the victory as a collective achievement for the Bar. She pledged to build a more inclusive and responsive association while prioritising lawyers' welfare, improved earnings, better working conditions, and expanded professional opportunities. Calling on members to move beyond the election, she promised to serve with courage, fairness, humility, and accountability.

Former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar also congratulated Badejo-Okusanya, describing her election as a milestone for women in the legal profession. He urged the new NBA leadership to continue defending constitutional democracy, judicial independence, the rule of law, and equal access to justice throughout Nigeria.