The President-elect of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, has expressed gratitude to members of the association for electing her to lead the Bar, describing her victory as a mandate to build a stronger, more inclusive and responsive NBA.
In a message of appreciation issued after the election, Badejo-Okusanya said she was humbled by the confidence reposed in her and thanked members for embracing her campaign vision of “A Bolder Bar That Works for Everyone”.
She said her nationwide engagement with lawyers across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory during the campaign provided valuable insights into the concerns and aspirations of members, adding that those conversations would shape her administration.
The president-elect also extended appreciation to all lawyers who participated in the election, irrespective of the candidates they supported, stressing that the contest was over and that the NBA must now move forward as one united association committed to promoting the legal profession, justice and the rule of law.
She congratulated her fellow contestants for contributing to what she described as a robust democratic process and expressed readiness to work with them in advancing the objectives of the association.
Badejo-Okusanya also acknowledged the contributions of members of the BBOLD Campaign Council, volunteers, coordinators and supporters, as well as her family, mentors and friends, with special appreciation to her husband for his support throughout the campaign.
Looking ahead, she pledged to lead with integrity, courage, humility, fairness and accountability, promising to be “a President for every member” of the NBA.
She added that her administration would focus on creating an association where lawyers can “earn better, live better and practise better,” declaring that with the election concluded, “the work begins now.”
Badejo-Okusanya was elected as its next president after she polled the most votes when voting officially ended Sunday morning.
The only female among the three presidential candidates was said to have polled 12,317 votes to emerge the winner of the election, which was held through electronic voting for 24 hours, from 7:35 a.m. on Saturday to 7:34 a.m. on Sunday.
She was said to have defeated her two challengers, polling 47.18 per cent of the 26,106 ballots cast in the presidential election, based on the final tally.
With her victory, Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, will become the 33rd President of the legal association, and the second female to lead the NBA since its formation in 1933.
Afam Okeke was elected General Secretary of the legal body, having polled 8,478 votes to defeat his opponents.
All the elected officials will be in office for two years, spanning 2026 to 2028.
