The NBA election dispute has continued to divide lawyers following Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya’s emergence as the association’s president-elect.
Badejo-Okusanya, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, defeated two other candidates in the electronically conducted election.
She will become the second woman to lead the Nigerian Bar Association since its formation in 1933. Her inauguration as the association’s 33rd president is scheduled for August 21, 2026.
The Electoral Committee of the NBA declared Badejo-Okusanya the winner after she secured 12,317 votes. The figure represented 47.18 per cent of the total votes cast.
Lateef Akangbe received 7,934 votes, representing 30.39 per cent. Olumuyiwa Akinboro finished third with 5,855 votes, or 22.43 per cent.
A total of 26,106 lawyers participated in the presidential election.
Rivals reject election outcome
Akangbe and Akinboro rejected the result and raised concerns about the integrity of the voting process.
Akinboro described the election as a sham and accused outgoing NBA President Afam Osigwe of influencing the electoral committee.
During an interview with ARISE Television, he also questioned the process used to appoint members of the committee.
Osigwe rejected the allegations. He said the NBA National Executive Committee validated the electoral body and allowed it to operate independently.
Akangbe also protested while voting was still ongoing. He asked the electoral committee to suspend the exercise over alleged technical problems.
He claimed the voting portal had failed and that voters received one-time passwords through email instead of text messages.
Akangbe also alleged that the presidential ballot displayed the photograph of only one candidate.
However, several lawyers described the process as smooth and transparent.
Abuja-based lawyer Deji Adeyanju said his registration, verification and voting took less than two minutes.
He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to study the NBA’s electronic voting system.
Cyberattack threatened election, Osigwe says
Osigwe admitted that the election encountered several difficulties.
He said a cyberattack almost disrupted the exercise and forced officials to rebuild the information technology system.
According to him, the electoral platform was moved to a safer server before voting could continue.
Osigwe also disclosed that security operatives arrested one of the service providers before releasing him.
He said the Department of State Services temporarily seized the service provider’s laptop.
The outgoing president called for calm and urged lawyers to prioritise the unity of the association.
He added that the electoral committee would review the challenges and recommend ways to protect future elections.
NBA election dispute revives old concerns
Complaints about electronic voting have followed several NBA elections.
Joe-Kyari Gadzama, who finished second in the 2022 presidential election, also questioned the integrity of that exercise.
Gadzama claimed the voting technology was vulnerable to manipulation and requested an independent audit.
Yakubu Maikyau won the 2022 contest with 22,342 votes. Gadzama received 10,842 votes, while Taidi Gunu polled 1,380 votes.
Gadzama said his technical representatives identified timeouts and limited access to the election server.
He also alleged that the electoral committee failed to provide the requested audit.
However, allegations of manipulation in previous NBA elections have not been proven. Courts have also dismissed several related cases for lacking merit.
Badejo-Okusanya promises electoral reforms
Badejo-Okusanya has acknowledged the complaints surrounding her victory.
After receiving her Certificate of Return, she promised to make electoral reform a major priority of her administration.
She said concerns about NBA elections extended beyond the candidates who challenged the result.
According to her, many lawyers believe the association’s elections lack credibility.
“We must have an honest conversation about how elections should proceed going forward,” she said.
Badejo-Okusanya added that repeated disputes could damage the growth and unity of the association.
She promised to pursue a system that members would respect and accept.
The president-elect also extended an olive branch to Akangbe and Akinboro.
Court cases threaten inauguration
Despite her reform pledge, court cases could disrupt Badejo-Okusanya’s planned inauguration.
The Incorporated Trustees of the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The group wants the court to stop her swearing-in and maintain the current NBA leadership pending the determination of its suit.
The case challenges the constitutionality of the processes that produced the 2026 election.
Egbe Amofin O’odua has also taken legal action against the NBA.
The association accused the NBA of refusing to adopt Akinboro as the consensus candidate of the Western Zone.
Another case involving four aggrieved lawyers remains before the Oyo State High Court.
The growing legal challenges have added uncertainty to Badejo-Okusanya’s planned assumption of office.
However, the president-elect has maintained that electoral reform will form a central part of her leadership if she takes office.
