Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya Wins NBA Presidency Amid Election Lawsuits

The Nigerian Bar Association announced Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya as its 33rd President for the 2026–2028 term after she secured 12,317 votes, or 47.18% of the valid ballots. She is the first woman to be directly elected to the office by the membership. Defeating candidates Lateef Akangbe and Olumuyiwa Akinboro, Badejo-Okusanya pledged to build a "bolder bar that works for everyone" and improve lawyer welfare.

The electronic election faced significant disruptions, including technical glitches and a coordinated cyberattack. While outgoing President Afam Osigwe defended the integrity of the process, Lateef Akangbe rejected the results, citing authentication errors and potential multiple voting. Senior Advocate Kemi Pinheiro further urged the president-elect to focus on reconciliation to heal generational and ideological divisions within the legal community.

The transition now faces a legal hurdle. The Incorporated Trustees of the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners filed a lawsuit at the Abuja Federal High Court seeking an injunction to block the swearing-in of Badejo-Okusanya and other national officers. The plaintiff alleges voter disenfranchisement and technical failures of the e-voting platform, while also challenging the Attorney-General of the Federation for alleged interference in the process. Badejo-Okusanya was originally scheduled to be sworn in during the NBA Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt between August 21 and 28.