2026 NBA Election Row Deepens as Badejo-Okusanya Promises Electoral Overhaul

President-elect of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, has pledged sweeping reforms to the association’s electoral process following controversy over the 2026 presidential election.

Badejo-Okusanya emerged winner of the electronically conducted election after polling 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 percent of the ballots cast, ahead of Lateef Akangbe, SAN, who secured 7,934 votes (30.39%), and Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, who polled 5,855 votes (22.43%).

Her victory makes her only the second woman to lead Africa’s largest lawyers’ association since its establishment in 1933, with her inauguration scheduled for August 21, 2026.

Although many members praised the election as transparent and credible, the outcome has been fiercely disputed by the defeated candidates.

Akinboro alleged the process was manipulated and claimed the outgoing NBA President, Afam Osigwe, SAN, influenced the Electoral Committee.

Akangbe also rejected the results, alleging technical failures, including problems with the electronic voting portal, OTP delivery and the display of candidate information during voting.

Despite the complaints, several lawyers commended the electronic voting platform.

Lawyer Deji Adeyanju described the process as efficient and secure.

“Registration, verification, and voting took me less than two minutes… Electronic voting can work efficiently and securely in Nigeria. The NBA election shows that electronic voting is achievable with the right systems,” he said.

Outgoing NBA President Afam Osigwe, SAN, dismissed allegations of interference and revealed that the election survived a major cyberattack.

“Many went to great lengths to truncate the electoral process… Every effort to derail the process failed,” Osigwe stated.

He added that the Electoral Committee would evaluate the challenges encountered and recommend improvements to strengthen future elections.

Acknowledging concerns surrounding her election, Badejo-Okusanya said restoring confidence in the NBA’s electoral process would be a priority.

“There is a perception among the wider membership of the Bar that our elections are always rigged.

“We must have an honest conversation about how elections should proceed going forward… I will certainly be making electoral reform a priority, so that we will have a system that everybody respects and agrees with,” she said.

Her commitment comes against the backdrop of recurring allegations of election manipulation in previous NBA polls, including the disputed 2022 presidential election, although such claims have not been upheld in court.

Meanwhile, legal challenges to her victory continue.

The Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to halt her swearing-in pending determination of questions surrounding the constitutionality of the election process.

A separate suit filed by members of Egbe Amofin O’odua before the Oyo State High Court is also challenging aspects of the election.

Despite the ongoing litigation, Badejo-Okusanya has maintained that rebuilding trust in the NBA’s electoral system will remain central to her administration.

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