Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, has been elected the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association after securing a decisive victory in the association’s national election conducted electronically.
Badejo-Okusanya polled 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 per cent of the total votes cast, to defeat her closest challenger, Mr. Lateef Akangbe (SAN), who garnered 7,934 votes, while Mr. Olumuyiwa Akinboro (SAN) came third with 5,855 votes.
The results were announced in the early hours of Sunday at the NBA National Secretariat in Abuja by the Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, Aham Ejelam (SAN), following the conclusion of the nationwide exercise.
Her election marks a significant leadership transition in Nigeria’s foremost body of legal practitioners as she takes over from the outgoing NBA President, Mr. Afam Osigwe (SAN).
Other national officers elected during the exercise include Oghenero Okoro, who emerged First Vice-President with 11,024 votes; Afam Okeke, elected General Secretary with 8,478 votes; Aghogho Gladys, who won the office of Assistant General Secretary with 14,312 votes; and Chinelo Ofoegbunam, elected Welfare Secretary after polling 14,911 votes.
Speaking after the announcement of the results, Osigwe revealed that the election survived attempts by some individuals to derail the process.
According to him, the period leading to the poll was one of the most challenging in the association’s recent history, alleging that concerted efforts were made to undermine the credibility of the NBA.
He urged the newly elected officers to be magnanimous in victory and appealed to unsuccessful candidates to remain committed to the association.
Osigwe also referenced the cyberattack that affected the electoral process, saying it exposed the urgent need to strengthen the NBA’s data protection and digital infrastructure.
“The NBA, being an association of lawyers, should be able to determine the course of its electoral process while promoting the rule of law.
“Mistakes might have been made during the process, but I have confidence that my successor will correct them,” he said.
He further called on members of the Bar to close ranks behind the new leadership.
“I urge winners to extend the hand of fellowship to those who lost and work together with a united front to move the Bar forward. The unity of the Bar cannot and should never be negotiated,” Osigwe added.
He expressed confidence that the new executive committee would build on the achievements of the outgoing administration and wished the incoming leadership a successful tenure.
The NBA election had generated intense interest among lawyers nationwide following controversies surrounding the electoral process and concerns over attempts to disrupt the exercise before voting was eventually concluded. (NAN)
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