Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, has been elected as the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), becoming only the second woman in the association’s history to occupy the prestigious office.
Badejo-Okusanya emerged victorious in the NBA’s 2026 national election after securing the highest number of votes in the electronic poll, which officially concluded on Sunday morning. She defeated fellow Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Lateef Akangbe and Olumuyiwa Akinboro, to clinch the association’s top position.
The Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), Chief Aham Ejelam, SAN, announced the final results following the completion of voting and collation.
According to the official tally, Badejo-Okusanya received 47.18 per cent of the 26,106 valid votes cast, earning a two-year mandate to lead Nigeria’s foremost body of legal practitioners from 2026 to 2028.
Her victory marks a significant milestone for the legal profession, as she becomes the second female president of the NBA after Priscilla Kuye, who served between 1991 and 1992.
In her acceptance remarks, Badejo-Okusanya pledged to lead the association with integrity, accountability and courage, promising to build a stronger and more inclusive Bar that prioritises the welfare of lawyers, upholds the rule of law and advances justice across the country.
Her election has been widely hailed by members of the legal community as a historic moment that reflects growing confidence in inclusive leadership within the Nigerian Bar Association.
