Badejo-Okusanya Elected NBA President Amid Technical Glitches
Monday, 20 July 2026
Atlantic Digest News Desk
Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya has been elected President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), becoming the association’s second female president after securing victory in an election that was marred by widespread technical challenges and delays.
The announcement followed a keenly contested poll conducted electronically for thousands of lawyers across Nigeria. Badejo-Okusanya polled 12,370 votes to defeat her closest rivals, Lateef Akangbe (SAN), who secured 7,934 votes, and Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), who garnered 5,855 votes.
The election was, however, overshadowed by persistent technical glitches that disrupted the online voting process. Many lawyers complained of difficulties accessing the voting portal, while others reported delays in receiving authentication credentials needed to cast their ballots. The disruptions prompted concerns about the transparency and credibility of the exercise, with some stakeholders calling for the process to be suspended until the technical issues were resolved.
One of the presidential candidates, Lateef Akangbe (SAN), had earlier urged the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) to suspend the election, alleging that system failures and security concerns had compromised the integrity of the poll. Despite the objections, the electoral committee proceeded with the exercise after assuring members that efforts were being made to resolve the technical problems.
Following the declaration of results, Badejo-Okusanya thanked members of the association for their confidence in her leadership and pledged to promote unity, strengthen the legal profession and protect the independence of the judiciary. She promised to prioritise reforms aimed at improving the welfare of lawyers, enhancing continuing legal education and defending the rule of law across the country.
Congratulatory messages poured in from senior advocates, legal practitioners and public officials, many describing her emergence as a significant milestone for gender inclusion and leadership within Nigeria’s legal community.
Despite the successful conclusion of the election, analysts say the technical difficulties experienced during the voting process underscore the need for the NBA to strengthen its electronic voting infrastructure ahead of future elections. They argue that improving digital security and ensuring seamless participation will be essential to maintaining members’ confidence in the association’s electoral process.
Badejo-Okusanya’s victory marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Nigerian Bar Association as it seeks to address the challenges facing the legal profession while advancing justice, legal reforms and the protection of constitutional democracy in Nigeria.
