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 country’s largest professional body for lawyers in its 66 year history.
The Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), Chief Aham Ejelam (SAN), announced the results following the conclusion of the association’s 2026 national elections, which experienced delays due to technical challenges and a reported cyberattack.
According to the official results, Badejo Okusanya secured 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 percent of the total votes cast, defeating her closest challenger, Lateef Akangbe (SAN), who polled 7,934 votes, while Olumuyiwa Akinboro (SAN) received 5,855 votes. A total of 26,106 votes were recorded in the election.
Her victory marks a historic milestone for the legal profession, as she becomes the first woman to head the Nigerian Bar Association in 35 years, following the tenure of Priscilla Kuye, who served as the association’s first female president in 1991.
Badejo Okusanya is expected to assume office in August, succeeding the outgoing NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN). She has pledged to strengthen the independence of the legal profession, promote judicial reforms, improve members’ welfare and uphold the rule of law across Nigeria.
The 2026 NBA election drew significant attention within the legal community, with debates focusing on judicial independence, electoral transparency, professional ethics and the future direction of the association. Despite initial logistical and technical setbacks, the Electoral Committee declared the process credible after announcing the final results.
Legal practitioners and stakeholders have since congratulated the president elect, expressing optimism that her administration will strengthen the Bar’s role in defending constitutional democracy, advancing justice sector reforms and protecting the rights of Nigerians.
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