Barrister Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has been elected the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
She becomes the first woman in mor than 20 years to lead one of the largest professional association in Nigeria.
Badejo-Okunsanya recorded a decisive victory in the association’s nationwide electronic election by polling a total 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 per cent of the total vote cast of 26,106. Her closest rival, Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, SAN polled 7, 93 votes representing 30.39 percent, while Olumuyiwa Akinboro, who secured 5,855 votes or 22.43 percent.
The election conducted by the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) has been judged to be “free and fair” by lawyers who spoke to FACTSHEET.
Badejo-Okusanya was the only female among the three candidates that vied for the NBA top job.
There had been crisis during the build-up to the election with the leadership of the NBA subtly accusing the Attorney Generla of the Federation, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN of plotting to ursurp the powers of the NBA Executive.
The election elicited series of interests as the service provider behind the electronic election was accused of underhand “deals.”
The Department of State Services (DSS) intervened and later the Managing Director of the association’s election service provider.
However, the NBA leadership later confirmed that the service provider’s managing director was released shortly after an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC), which resolved that the election would proceed as scheduled despite the incident.
The association condemned the detention, describing it as disturbing and capable of undermining confidence in the electoral process, while reaffirming its commitment to conducting a free, fair and credible election.
The association also called on authorities to respect its autonomy and avoid actions capable of interfering with its internal democratic processes.
Ms. Badejo-Okusanya will succeed the outgoing NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN at the end of the current administration.