Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, has recorded a historic achievement after emerging as the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
Her victory makes her the first woman to be elected into the association’s highest office through a national election, marking a significant moment in the history of Nigeria’s legal profession.
The NBA conducted its 2026 national election between July 18 and July 19, with members across the country casting their votes electronically.
Badejo-Okusanya defeated two other Senior Advocates of Nigeria to secure the presidency of Africa’s largest association of legal practitioners.
According to results announced by the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya received 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 percent of the total votes cast.
Her closest challenger, Lateef Akangbe, SAN, polled 7,934 votes, while Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, finished with 5,855 votes.
Historic Election Marks a New Chapter for the NBA
The outcome of the election represents a major milestone for the legal profession in Nigeria.
Although the late Dame Priscilla Kuye previously served as NBA President between 1991 and 1992, she assumed office after the sitting president was appointed Attorney-General of the Federation rather than being elected by members.
Badejo-Okusanya’s victory therefore makes her the first woman to attain the office through a direct electoral process.
The election was closely contested and was briefly affected by technical issues after reports of a cyber attack threatened to disrupt the voting process.
Despite the challenges, the Electoral Committee successfully concluded the exercise and announced the final results.
Following the declaration, outgoing NBA President, Afam Osigwe, SAN, urged members of the association to remain united regardless of the election outcome.
He said, “At the end of the day, let the Bar be the winner.”
Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya Promises Inclusive Leadership
In her acceptance speech, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya expressed gratitude to members of the Nigerian Bar Association for the trust reposed in her and reaffirmed her commitment to building a stronger and more inclusive Bar.
She said, “Thank you for believing in our shared vision of A Bolder Bar That Works for Everyone.”
The newly elected NBA President pledged to place greater focus on the welfare of lawyers, create more professional opportunities for members, and strengthen unity within the association throughout her tenure.
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Her election has continued to attract congratulatory messages from notable Nigerians. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, were among those who congratulated her on the historic victory, encouraging her to strengthen the legal profession and uphold the rule of law in Nigeria.
With her emergence, many legal practitioners see the election of Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya as a defining moment that could shape the future of the Nigerian Bar Association while inspiring more women to pursue leadership positions within the legal profession.
