Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya has been elected as the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), becoming only the second woman to lead the association in its 66-year history. According to the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) and reported by ChannelsTv and BusinessDay , Badejo-Okusanya secured 12,317 votes, representing 47.18% of the 26,106 valid ballots cast, defeating fellow Senior Advocates Lateef Akangbe and Olumuyiwa Akinboro in the association’s 2026 national election.
Badejo-Okusanya, a respected commercial lawyer and former General Counsel in the Lagos State Government, will serve a two-year term from 2026 to 2028. Her victory follows an election that experienced delays after the ECNBA reported a cyberattack on its electronic voting platform before polling commenced. Despite the disruption, the electoral process was completed, with the ECNBA affirming the credibility and transparency of the results.
In her acceptance message, Badejo-Okusanya pledged to lead the association with integrity, courage, fairness, and accountability while strengthening the legal profession and protecting the rule of law. She also committed to building a more inclusive Nigerian Bar that better serves its members and the wider society, succeeding outgoing NBA President Afam Osigwe, SAN. Her election follows Priscilla Kuye, who served as the association’s first female president between 1991 and 1992, making Badejo-Okusanya the second woman to occupy the office and the first to secure the position through a direct national election.
The outcome marks a significant moment for Nigeria’s legal profession, reflecting increasing diversity in leadership within one of Africa’s largest professional associations. Premium Times says Badejo-Okusanya’s presidency comes at a pivotal time as the NBA continues to play a critical role in advancing judicial reform, defending constitutional democracy, promoting legal innovation, and strengthening the administration of justice in Nigeria.
