By Ghazali Ibrahim
Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya (SAN), has made history by becoming the first woman to be democratically elected President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), following the conclusion of the association’s 2026 national election yesterday.
Badejo-Okusanya emerged victorious after defeating fellow Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Olumuyiwa Akinboro and Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, in a keenly contested poll conducted electronically by the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA).
Her victory marks a significant milestone in the 66-year history of the NBA, making her the association’s second female president after Dame Priscilla Kuye, who led the Bar between 1991 and 1992.
However, Badejo-Okusanya is widely recognised as the first woman to attain the office through a direct election under the NBA’s current electoral system.
The election followed a tense process that was initially disrupted by a cyberattack on the NBA’s electronic voting platform, forcing the ECNBA to delay the commencement of voting before eventually extending the exercise to allow eligible lawyers to cast their ballots.
Despite the setback, thousands of lawyers participated in the election nationwide.
Badejo-Okusanya, the only female candidate in the presidential race, campaigned on promises to strengthen the independence of the Bar, improve welfare for legal practitioners, enhance professional development, and deepen the NBA’s role in promoting the rule of law and justice in Nigeria.
Her election has been hailed by many within the legal community as a landmark achievement for gender inclusion in the profession, coming 35 years after the NBA last had a woman at its helm.
She is expected to succeed the outgoing NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), and officially assume office at the association’s Annual General Conference later this year.
